Uganda dispatched special forces to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, to support President Salva Kiir’s government amid rising tensions with First Vice President Riek Machar. The deployment aims to stabilize the situation and prevent a potential return to civil war.
The intervention follows the detention of two ministers and several senior military officials aligned with Machar, intensifying fears of renewed conflict. Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, confirmed the deployment, expressing strong support for President Kiir and stating that any opposition against him would be considered a declaration of war against Uganda.
This move underscores the fragility of the 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war in South Sudan, which resulted in nearly 400,000 deaths. Uganda has previously intervened in South Sudan, deploying troops in 2013 and 2016 to support Kiir’s forces against Machar’s, both of which were later withdrawn.
The current deployment aims to prevent potential instability and a refugee influx into Uganda. The duration of the mission and whether it was requested by the South Sudanese government remain unclear.
The situation remains volatile, with the international community closely monitoring developments to prevent a relapse into widespread conflict.
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