Uganda has deployed an undisclosed number of troops to South Sudan, intensifying regional involvement in the nation’s fragile political landscape.
The move comes as tensions between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his deputy, Riek Machar, threaten to plunge the country back into civil war.
According to Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, a spokesperson for the Ugandan military, the deployment is aimed at supporting the South Sudanese government against a potential rebel advance on the capital, Juba. “We sent a force there two days ago,” Kulayigye confirmed. “We are not there for peacekeeping.”
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, a longstanding ally of Kiir, has positioned himself as a key figure in maintaining the power balance in Juba. His decision to send troops underscores Uganda’s role as a guarantor of the peace agreement that binds Kiir and Machar in a delicate unity government.
The deployment highlights the growing instability in the oil-rich nation, which has struggled with conflict and political discord since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. The United Nations has warned of “an alarming regression that could erase years of hard-won progress,” while the U.S. has ordered nonessential government personnel to evacuate Juba.
The latest escalation stems from ongoing clashes in northern South Sudan, where government troops are engaged in fierce battles with the White Army, a militia widely believed to be aligned with Machar.
Last week, a South Sudanese general was among several casualties when a United Nations helicopter was attacked while attempting to evacuate soldiers from Nasir, a hotspot in Upper Nile State.
The attack has intensified fears of further instability, with government forces later surrounding Machar’s residence in Juba and arresting several of his allies. Among those detained was Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, a known Machar loyalist.
Earlier this year, Kiir fueled tensions by dismissing officials seen as Machar’s allies, prompting accusations from Machar’s camp that such “persistent violations through unilateral decisions and decrees threaten the very existence” of their fragile peace agreement.
In response to the rising conflict, Kiir issued a statement urging calm. “We will handle this crisis and we will remain steadfast in the path of peace,” he said. However, his words have done little to ease the political standoff that continues to undermine national stability.
Civil War Fears Loom as Elections Approach
South Sudan has been marred by political violence since 2013, when tensions between Kiir and Machar erupted into ethnic conflict. Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, accused Machar, an ethnic Nuer, of attempting a coup, triggering a brutal civil war.
The conflict saw rebels aligned with Machar nearly seize Juba before being repelled by South Sudanese forces backed by Ugandan special forces. The war, which lasted five years, claimed over 400,000 lives and displaced millions.
Following mediation efforts led by regional leaders and the international community, Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal in 2018. Under the agreement, Machar returned to Juba as South Sudan’s first vice president.
However, their ongoing rivalry continues to pose a significant threat to lasting peace, with both leaders accused of repeatedly violating ceasefires.
International pressure is mounting for the government to accelerate the implementation of the 2018 peace deal. The U.S. and other stakeholders have urged South Sudanese leaders to take concrete steps toward unifying military forces and preparing for long-delayed elections.
Initially scheduled for earlier years, the presidential elections have now been postponed to 2026 due to the government’s failure to enact key reforms.
While Uganda’s military presence in Juba signals a commitment to preserving stability, it also raises questions about the long-term prospects of peace in South Sudan. With unresolved political disputes and a volatile security situation, the country remains at a crossroads, teetering between renewed conflict and the hope of a lasting resolution.
READ ALSO: Gyampo Slams NPP Communicator Over Political Appointments Claims
