UPA Condemns South Sudan Government’s Invitation to Ugandan Army

The UPA has condemned South Sudan’s decision to invite UPDF amid ongoing conflicts, asserting it jeopardizes peace efforts. They call for a withdrawal of foreign troops and emphasize regional and international intervention to stabilize the situation. Escalating tensions between government and opposition forces raise concerns about adherence to the peace agreement established in 2018.

The United People’s Alliance (UPA) has expressed strong disapproval of the South Sudan government’s decision to invite the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) amid ongoing conflicts in Upper Nile, Western Bahr Ghazal, and Western Equatoria states. Founded in January, the UPA is aligned with the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) and has unified its factions under a single command with Gen. Pa’gan Amum Okiech as its leader.

In a recent press release, UPA Secretary General Lual Dau emphasized that South Sudan is facing a critical situation, wherein citizens are actively seeking to resolve the escalating economic and humanitarian crises caused by governmental mismanagement. The UPA suggested that the ruling government in Juba is intentionally pushing the nation towards war through the invitation of foreign military forces, thus undermining efforts for peace through the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

The UPA has called for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from South Sudan that are not authorized by the United Nations. Moreover, the alliance urged regional and international entities to prevent any actions that could worsen the already precarious circumstances in the country, advocating for solidarity with the South Sudanese people during this tumultuous period.

Additionally, the Chief of Defence Forces for Uganda, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, indicated that Ugandan troops were deployed in South Sudan to safeguard President Salva Kiir and the capital, Juba. However, South Sudan’s Information Minister Michael Makuei categorically denied this claim, while a spokesperson for the UPDF confirmed the presence of special forces in the nation to assist Kiir’s government, despite a lack of parliamentary authorization from Uganda.

Recent tensions between President Kiir’s forces and those of First Vice President Riek Machar have escalated, marked by violence and an intensified governmental crackdown on Machar’s supporters, significantly threatening the fragile peace established by the 2018 peace accord that ended a destructive five-year civil war.

The UPA remains resolute in its opposition to the South Sudanese government’s decisions that, in their view, jeopardize peace and stability in the nation. The continued military presence of Ugandan forces, combined with escalating domestic conflict, poses significant threats to the fragile peace agreement. The UPA’s calls for solidarity and withdrawal of foreign troops underline the dire need for restoring order and protecting South Sudan’s sovereignty.

Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org