Ugandan Troops Deployed to South Sudan Amid Rising Tensions
Ugandan special forces have been deployed to Juba, South Sudan, to maintain order amid rising tensions and violence. Army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba pledged to protect South Sudan, while the country’s fragile peace agreement faces significant challenges following recent clashes. International bodies are raising alarms about a potential regression in the region’s stability.
The Ugandan army chief announced the deployment of special forces to South Sudan’s capital, Juba, amid escalating tensions threatening the region’s fragile peace agreement. South Sudan has faced significant political instability and insecurity, heightened recently by clashes among forces affiliated with its leadership in the northeast.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Ugandan army chief, stated, “As of 2 days ago, our Special Forces units entered Juba to secure it,” expressing Uganda’s commitment to protecting South Sudan’s territory. His father, President Yoweri Museveni, has garnered attention for his controversial posts on social media.
Army spokesman Felix Kulayigye affirmed that the deployment aims to safeguard the government. He disclosed that the troops were sent to Juba two days prior to his statement, emphasizing the necessity of their presence for governmental protection.
Uganda initially intervened in South Sudan in 2013 amid a civil war supporting President Salva Kiir, withdrawing officially in late 2015. A power-sharing agreement reached in 2018 between Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar has been jeopardized by recent conflicts, particularly in Upper Nile State, creating renewed instability.
Accusations have emerged from Kiir’s allies against Machar’s forces, linking them to regional unrest with the youth faction known as the White Army. This increasing violence has stirred international alarm, prompting the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan to highlight the risk of regression in progress made over the years.
The International Crisis Group has cautioned that South Sudan is rapidly on the brink of descending into full-scale war, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the nation.
In summary, the deployment of Ugandan troops to Juba signifies a critical response to escalating tensions in South Sudan, stemming from recent violent clashes among local forces. As the fragile power-sharing agreement faces new threats, international observers have voiced significant concern over the potential for a return to full-blown conflict, highlighting the urgent need for stability and peace in the region.
Original Source: thedefensepost.com
