Uganda has deployed special forces to Juba, South Sudan, to secure the area as tensions rise between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. The government recently detained individuals allied with Machar, jeopardizing the 2018 peace agreement. Uganda has intervened militarily in past conflicts in South Sudan, fearing instability and refugee influxes. Details regarding the deployment’s duration and requests from the South Sudan government remain unclear.
Uganda’s military chief announced the deployment of special forces to South Sudan’s capital, Juba, amid rising tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. These tensions have escalated following the government’s detention of two ministers and several high-ranking military officials aligned with Machar, which has sparked fears of a potential return to civil war. Previously, one detained minister has been released.
The recent detentions in Juba and violent clashes near Nasir threaten the fragile peace established by the 2018 accord that ended a devastating civil conflict, resulting in nearly 400,000 deaths. “As of two days ago, our Special Forces units entered Juba to secure it,” stated Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s military chief, via the social media platform X, emphasizing Uganda’s commitment to supporting President Kiir.
Kainerugaba further asserted, “We the UPDF (Ugandan military), only recognize one President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir … any move against him is a declaration of war against Uganda.” Despite the gravity of the situation, South Sudan’s government information minister and military spokesperson were unavailable for comments when contacted.
Uganda previously intervened in South Sudan during conflicts in 2013 and 2016, providing military support to bolster Kiir’s forces against Machar’s factions. Ugandan troops were withdrawn following periods of conflict. The ongoing fears of a full-fledged crisis in South Sudan are exacerbated by concerns regarding potential refugee influxes into Uganda and regional instability. Kainerugaba has not confirmed whether this latest deployment was at the request of President Kiir’s administration or provided details on the duration of the troops’ stay in South Sudan.
In summary, Uganda’s military has deployed special forces to Juba, South Sudan, to enhance security amid escalating tensions between President Kiir and First Vice President Machar. The situation is alarmingly reminiscent of past conflicts that have caused significant loss of life and instability. Uganda’s involvement reflects its commitment to supporting Kiir while also addressing concerns about possible refugee flows and regional instability. However, the long-term implications of this deployment remain uncertain.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
