Uganda MPs Endorse UPDF Troop Deployment to South Sudan for Stability

Uganda’s NRM parliamentary caucus has approved the deployment of troops to South Sudan, asserting the need for stability in the conflict-ridden country. Amid escalated tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, the UPDF’s involvement aims to respond to requests from South Sudan’s government for security intervention. The move has garnered support despite earlier concerns about parliamentary approval.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary caucus in Uganda has endorsed the deployment of Ugandan troops to South Sudan, viewing it as essential for re-establishing stability in the strife-torn nation. This decision was made during a meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Entebbe, on Thursday.

Escalating tensions have been noted between President Salva Kiir’s forces and those of his First Vice President, Riek Machar, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO). A recent assault by militias loyal to Machar resulted in significant casualties in Nasir town, including a commander of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

In response to this violence, Kiir’s administration has commenced a crackdown on affiliations with Machar, leading to arrests including that of the Petroleum Minister and several senior military officials. Such developments have revived concerns regarding the durability of the 2018 peace agreement that concluded a brutal five-year civil war in South Sudan.

The Government Chief Whip, Hamson Obua, announced in a signed statement that the deployment of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) aligns with both Uganda’s constitution and the UPDF Act. The statement expressed, “We, the members of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, hereby resolve to support the deployment of the UPDF in South Sudan as a necessary intervention for peace enforcement, to protect lives, restore stability, and prevent further escalation of conflict.”

The caucus also endorsed seeking parliamentary approval for this deployment to ensure alignment with constitutional standards. Earlier, questions had been raised by lawmakers regarding the presence of the UPDF in South Sudan. Defence Minister Jacob Oboth communicated to parliament his lack of knowledge about the deployment, despite claims of Ugandan troops being dispatched to Juba to assist President Kiir.

Colonel Chris Magezi, the Military Assistant for Public Relations to the Chief of Defence Forces, clarified that the UPDF had mobilized promptly upon receiving a request from South Sudan’s government to mitigate a deteriorating security climate. He noted, “The UPDF acted decisively on the request of the government of South Sudan to avert a dangerously developing situation and deployed forces accordingly. This action is also in the interest of regional security.”

Although the deployment has generated debate in Uganda, particularly regarding the lack of prior parliamentary approval, the NRM caucus has now publicly supported the initiative as a crucial measure to maintain regional stability. South Sudan, having gained independence in 2011, has suffered from ongoing internal conflicts, with Uganda historically playing a vital role in these issues, notably intervening in Juba in 2013 to support Kiir’s administration during the civil war between Kiir and Machar.

The endorsement of Ugandan troop deployment to South Sudan by the NRM parliamentary caucus marks a determined effort to restore stability amid escalating conflicts. Despite debates surrounding parliamentary oversight, government officials assert the action aligns with legal frameworks and responds to urgent regional security needs, reflecting Uganda’s ongoing involvement in South Sudanese affairs to mitigate violence and uphold peace initiatives established by past agreements.

Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org