UPDF has deployed to South Sudan to support President Salva Kiir amid rising tensions with Riek Machar’s forces. This intervention reflects the deepening political crisis in the region. Previous conflicts in 2013 and 2016 resulted in severe casualties and displacement. International entities emphasize the necessity for a peaceful resolution to prevent further violence.
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) have deployed in South Sudan to support President Salva Kiir Mayardit, as confirmed by Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba. UPDF Commandos landed in Juba to assist the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) amid escalating tensions. This operation, dubbed ‘Mlinzi wa Kimya,’ reveals the ongoing political instability within South Sudan, the continent’s newest nation.
The UPDF previously intervened in South Sudan in 2013, aiding President Kiir against an attempted coup by forces loyal to his former Vice President, Riek Machar, but such deployments have been without parliamentary approval. Recent conflicts intensified this month with Machar’s forces overrunning Nasir and ongoing skirmishes in Malakal and Bentiu, predominantly inhabited by the ethnic Nuer, to whom Machar belongs. Meanwhile, ongoing detentions of Machar’s supporters and his rumored house arrest signal rising tensions.
The current crisis marks a potential third large-scale conflict since South Sudan’s independence in 2011, following earlier confrontations in 2013 and 2016 that resulted in significant casualties and displacement. The peace agreement signed in 2018 attempted to stabilize the situation, yet tensions have persisted.
Elections slated for this year were postponed for another two years due to unresolved prerequisites, including the cessation of hostilities and unification of armed forces. International stakeholders, including IGAD and the United Nations, have underscored the need for a peaceful resolution to avert further violence, which would destabilize the already volatile region, particularly in the context of the Sudanese civil war.
The ongoing deployment of UPDF in South Sudan underlines the severity of the current political crisis faced by President Salva Kiir. Escalating tensions between rival factions may lead to significant conflict, underscoring the urgent need for diplomatic resolutions to stabilize the region. The international community remains vigilant on the development, emphasizing the importance of peace and security across South Sudan and its neighboring countries.
Original Source: www.independent.co.ug
