Uganda's Military Steps Into South Sudan Amid Escalating Tensions

Tensions rise in South Sudan as Uganda intervenes, potentially threatening fragile peace amidst existing clashes and political unrest.

Ugandan special forces have been dispatched to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, as an assertion of security amid escalating tensions between President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar, according to Uganda's military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Although the motivation behind this troop deployment remains unclear, Gen Kainerugaba emphasized that any opposition to Kiir would be treated as an act of war against Uganda. He further proclaimed, "We shall protect the entire territory of South Sudan like it was our own," in a statement shared on the social media platform X.

The South Sudanese government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the troop presence. Concerns about the deteriorating security situation in South Sudan have been mounting, with the United States recently ordering the evacuation of all non-emergency personnel from the country. This decision follows recent arrests of senior military officials and ministers aligned with Machar, which an opposition spokesperson described as a "grave violation" of the existing peace agreement. One minister has since been released.

These developments follow violence between government forces and a militia known as the White Army in the Upper Nile state, revealing the ongoing volatility in the region. The White Army was historically allied with Machar during the civil war that erupted in 2013 following a power struggle between him and Kiir, leading to catastrophic human loss estimated at over 400,000 lives.

Although a 2018 power-sharing agreement successfully halted the fighting, significant components of this deal—such as drafting a new constitution, holding elections, and merging armed groups into a unified military—remain largely unfulfilled. The current unrest raises critical questions about the future of peace and stability in South Sudan, as regional and international observers remain watchful over the unfolding situation.