Uganda has sent special forces to Juba to support President Salva Kiir amid rising tensions with First Vice President Riek Machar. This move follows a crackdown on Machar’s allies and raises concerns over the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, which has faced numerous delays. The recent developments amplify fears of renewed conflict in South Sudan.
Uganda has deployed special forces to Juba to assist the administration of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir amid escalating tensions with First Vice President Riek Machar. The confirmation of the deployment was made by Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who stated that Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) commandos are in Juba for an operation called Mlinzi wa Kimya.
The move follows a crackdown by Kiir’s government on Machar’s supporters, with recent detentions of two ministers and several senior military officials loyal to him. One minister has since been released, increasing tensions within the administration.
These incidents exacerbate fears regarding the fragile peace agreement made in 2018, which aimed to end a devastating five-year civil war. Although the agreement reinstated Machar in a power-sharing format established in 2020, its progress has faced substantial challenges, including delays in unifying armed factions into a national army.
Historically, Uganda has intervened in South Sudan’s conflicts. Earlier interventions were notable after civil war ignited in 2013, instigated by a power struggle between Kiir and Machar, which brought widespread violence and upheaval to the region.
Machar’s faction has denounced the arrests of its allies, demanding their release and expressing concerns about a recent Cabinet reshuffle by Kiir that removed officials aligned with him. Machar argues that these actions threaten the stability and enforcement of the current power-sharing agreement.
The situation has raised alarm among opposition leaders who fear that South Sudan, having gained independence in 2011, may regress into conflict. The ongoing delay in setting election dates further complicates an already fragile political landscape, indicating that the risk of conflict remains high.
In summary, Uganda’s deployment of special forces to Juba signifies an escalating crisis between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, worsened by a crackdown on Machar’s supporters and delays in implementing a crucial peace agreement from 2018. Concerns are mounting that this fragile peace may not endure, as political tensions threaten the stability of South Sudan, a nation still grappling with the aftermath of civil conflict and political unrest.
Original Source: www.capitalfm.co.ke
