Uganda has dispatched special forces to Juba to support President Salva Kiir amidst rising tensions with Riek Machar. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba stated that any threats against Kiir would be considered acts of war against Uganda. The security situation in South Sudan is deteriorating, with recent arrests of Machar’s allies and a heightened crisis that may jeopardize the peace agreement established in 2018.
In a significant military development, Uganda has deployed special forces to the South Sudanese capital of Juba to assist President Salva Kiir, according to Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Ugandan military chief. This deployment occurs amid escalating tensions between President Kiir and his deputy, Riek Machar, prompting concerns over the stability of their fragile peace agreement.
Gen Kainerugaba emphasized that any threats against President Kiir would be treated as an act of war against Uganda. He asserted, “We shall protect the entire territory of South Sudan like it was our own.” Uganda’s intervention underlines the serious nature of the current political climate in South Sudan.
The South Sudanese government has yet to issue a formal statement regarding Uganda’s military presence. The situation remains precarious, with the United States ordering the evacuation of all non-emergency personnel from South Sudan due to rising security threats.
Recent political tensions heightened following the arrest of the deputy chief of the army and two ministers who are allies of Machar. These arrests were viewed as a severe breach of the existing peace accord. Notably, one minister has since been released.
These incidents follow violent clashes in the Upper Nile state between government forces and the militia known as the White Army, which supported Machar during the civil war that erupted in 2013. The civil conflict, triggered by a power struggle between Kiir and Machar, led to catastrophic violence, resulting in over 400,000 deaths.
A power-sharing agreement in 2018 succeeded in curtailing hostilities, but many essential components—such as the drafting of a new constitution, timely elections, and the consolidation of military factions—remain unaddressed, casting doubt on the lasting peace in South Sudan.
The deployment of Ugandan forces to Juba showcases the deepening political crisis in South Sudan, exacerbated by tensions between key leaders. General Kainerugaba’s statements underscore Uganda’s commitment to President Kiir’s government, while unrest and recent arrests threaten the fragile peace. The failure to implement critical components of the 2018 power-sharing agreement raises concerns about the potential for renewed conflict in the region.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
