Uganda has deployed special forces to South Sudan amidst rising tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar, risking the 2018 peace deal. The deployment aims to secure Juba following clashes, with Uganda recognizing only Kiir as the legitimate president. An urgent IGAD summit has been convened to address the crisis and prevent further escalation.
Uganda has initiated a deployment of special forces to South Sudan’s capital, Juba, in response to escalating tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar. This situation poses a threat to the fragile power-sharing peace deal established in 2018, which ended a prolonged civil conflict. The Ugandan military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, confirmed the action on March 10, highlighting the necessity of “securing” Juba amidst fears of a potential return to open conflict.
The unrest intensified following the detention of several ministers and senior officials linked to Machar’s faction, coupled with violent clashes reported in the Upper Nile region’s town of Nasir. Such events pose a significant risk to the continuation of the peace agreement that had previously halted a civil war resulting in nearly 400,000 fatalities.
Kainerugaba took to social media to proclaim that Uganda would exclusively recognize Kiir as the legitimate leader and indicated that any offensive against him would be seen as a declaration of war against Uganda. The Ugandan government has not clarified the duration of this military presence or whether it was sanctioned by Kiir’s administration, yet it reflects Uganda’s commitment to maintaining regional stability.
In light of the increasingly volatile situation, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened an urgent summit scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, to specifically address the escalating crisis within South Sudan, which teeters on the edge of another civil war. All eyes are on this development as the region grapples with the implications of renewed hostilities.
In conclusion, Uganda’s deployment of special forces to South Sudan underscores the gravity of the ongoing tensions between President Kiir and First Vice-President Machar. The situation is precarious due to recent detentions and clashes, threatening to dismantle the 2018 peace accord. As Uganda asserts its position, concerns about regional stability grow, prompting an urgent response from IGAD to avert a potential civil war.
Original Source: northafricapost.com
