Uganda has deployed special forces to South Sudan amidst rising tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar, threatening the 2018 peace deal. Military Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba confirmed this deployment was aimed at securing Juba due to fears of renewed civil conflict. An urgent summit by IGAD has been scheduled to address the escalating crisis.
Uganda has initiated a deployment of special forces to the capital of South Sudan, Juba, due to increased tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar. This situation threatens the stability of the power-sharing peace agreement established in 2018. Military Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba confirmed the deployment, citing the need to “secure” the capital amidst fears of a potential return to civil conflict.
Tensions escalated following the government of Kiir’s detention of several ministers and senior officials associated with Machar, which has led to violent clashes in the Upper Nile region, particularly in Nasir. These incidents raise significant concerns regarding the sustainability of the peace deal that concluded a five-year civil war, resulting in nearly 400,000 deaths.
Kainerugaba stated on social media that Uganda will only recognize Kiir as the legitimate president and cautioned that any threats to him would mean a declaration of war against Uganda. The length of the mission or whether it was requested by Kiir remains undisclosed, yet it highlights Uganda’s apprehension regarding regional stability. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has called an urgent summit on March 12 to address the escalating crisis in South Sudan, which could potentially erupt into a civil war.
In summary, Uganda’s deployment of special forces to South Sudan reflects urgent concerns over escalating tensions between President Kiir and Vice-President Machar. The detention of key officials has heightened fears of civil war, jeopardizing the fragile peace established in 2018. Uganda’s stance of recognizing only Kiir as the legitimate leader underscores the seriousness of the situation as regional bodies convene to tackle the crisis.
Original Source: northafricapost.com
