The South Sudanese government has confirmed the presence of Ugandan troops in Juba under a long-standing military pact aimed at combating negative forces. The deployment supports President Salva Kiir amidst rising political tensions and conflict with opposition factions. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has publicly declared Uganda’s commitment to Kiir, equating any threats against him to a declaration of war. Additional Ugandan forces have been deployed to reinforce this support, while international responses remain unclear.
The South Sudanese government has confirmed the presence of Ugandan troops in Juba, asserting that the deployment of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) aligns with a long-standing military agreement designed to counteract negative forces, including the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Minister of Information Michael Makuei Leuth emphasized that this intervention reflects an extension of previous security arrangements rather than a new development.
Minister Makuei affirmed, “The government of South Sudan and the government of Uganda have a military pact that was signed since the time of LRA… The UPDF forces that arrived in Juba are support units and technical units. They have come to support their brothers and sisters in the SSPDF.” This announcement follows an earlier denial regarding the UPDF’s presence in the nation.
The troop deployment is strategically positioned to bolster the position of President Salva Kiir amid escalating political tensions with First Vice President Riek Machar. This situation has been complicated by recent conflicts, including hostilities between government forces and the White Army in Upper Nile State, an attack on a UN helicopter, and the detention of key opposition figures such as SPLA-IO Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, publicly expressed his support for President Kiir, declaring that any threat against him would be viewed as a declaration of war against Uganda. He stated, “We the UPDF (Ugandan military) only recognize one President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir… Any move against him is a declaration of war against Uganda.” Uganda’s ruling NRM Parliamentary Caucus also endorsed the troop deployment, recognizing its necessity in restoring stability.
In a further show of military reinforcement, Uganda dispatched additional troops and heavy artillery to South Sudan to solidify support for President Kiir. The White Army, aligned with Machar, has recently seized Nasir, a critical town on the Ethiopian border, prompting airstrikes by the Ugandan military to disrupt potential supply lines to them. The United Nations and other regional entities have yet to respond to the justification for Uganda’s troop presence in South Sudan under the existing military agreement against the LRA.
In summary, the South Sudanese government’s defense of Uganda’s military presence stems from a historical bilateral military pact intended to combat negative forces like the LRA. The intervention is positioned to strengthen President Kiir’s authority amid rising tensions with opposition factions. Furthermore, the Ugandan military has reaffirmed its commitment to Kiir, framing any threats against him as a serious geopolitical concern. The situation remains complex as international responses to Uganda’s actions are still pending.
Original Source: chimpreports.com
