Ugandan Troops Deployed to South Sudan Amid Rising Tensions

Uganda has deployed special forces to Juba, South Sudan, amid rising tensions threatening a fragile peace deal. The Ugandan army confirmed this action to secure the area and protect the South Sudanese government. Political instability in South Sudan continues, leading to warnings from the United Nations and the International Crisis Group about a potential return to war.

In response to increasing tensions, Uganda has dispatched special forces to South Sudan’s capital, Juba. This deployment follows concerns that the fragile peace agreement in South Sudan might be jeopardized due to recent clashes between opposing factions in the northeastern region.

Ugandan army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba confirmed the troop movement, stating, “As of two days ago, our Special Forces units entered Juba to secure it. We shall protect the entire territory of South Sudan like it was our own.” Army spokesman Felix Kulayigye reiterated this announcement, explaining the mission is to safeguard the South Sudanese government, as per their directives from higher authorities.

South Sudan has faced persistent political instability and violence over the years. Although Uganda initially deployed troops to support President Salva Kiir during the civil war in 2013, the Ugandan forces withdrew in 2015. Nonetheless, unrest and tensions have surged sporadically since.

After a peace agreement was reached in 2018 between President Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, ceasefires did not hold, and hostilities have re-emerged, particularly in Upper Nile State. Pro-Kiir factions attribute the recent violence to Machar’s supporters and the White Army, a militia group comprised of young fighters from Machar’s Nuer ethnic background.

The United Nations has cautioned that South Sudan is experiencing “an alarming regression” which threatens to reverse years of progress towards peace. The International Crisis Group has also expressed apprehensions, indicating that the situation in the country appears to be deteriorating rapidly towards a state of full-blown war.

In summary, Uganda’s military intervention in South Sudan’s Juba serves as a critical response to escalating tensions and the threat of renewed conflict. Historical ties between the two nations and the precarious nature of South Sudan’s peace deal underscore the complexities of regional stability. Concerns from international organizations indicate a troubling trajectory that could lead South Sudan back to widespread violence.

Original Source: globalsouthworld.com