Uganda Deploys Special Forces Amid South Sudan Tensions

Uganda Deploys Special Forces to Bolster South Sudan Government Amid Rising Tensions

KAMPALA, UGANDA – Uganda has deployed an undisclosed number of elite troops to South Sudan, reinforcing President Salva Kiir’s government as tensions with Vice President Riek Machar escalate, threatening a return to civil war in the fragile East African nation.

Ugandan special forces have arrived in Juba, the South Sudanese capital, to support Kiir’s administration against a potential rebel advance, according to Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, spokesperson for the Ugandan military.

“We deployed our forces two days ago,” Kulayigye confirmed on Tuesday. “This is not a peacekeeping mission.”

Uganda’s Strategic Role in South Sudan’s Stability

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, a long-time ally of Kiir, has taken an active role as a guarantor of the peace process keeping Kiir and Machar in a fragile unity government. Uganda has previously intervened in South Sudan’s conflicts to help sustain Kiir’s rule, underscoring the strategic interests at stake.

The deployment of Ugandan forces highlights the deepening instability in South Sudan, an oil-producing nation plagued by political strife and violence since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

Rising Tensions and International Concerns

The situation has drawn international concern, with the United States ordering nonessential government personnel to leave Juba on Sunday. Meanwhile, the United Nations has warned of "an alarming regression that could erase years of hard-won progress" in South Sudan.

The latest unrest follows intensified clashes in the country’s northern region between government troops and a militia known as the White Army, which is widely believed to be aligned with Machar.

Last week, a South Sudanese general was among several killed when a UN helicopter, dispatched to evacuate government troops from Nasir—an area caught in the ongoing violence in Upper Nile state—came under fire. In response to the White Army’s takeover of a military garrison in Nasir, government forces surrounded Machar’s Juba residence, leading to the arrest of several of his allies, including Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, a known Machar loyalist.

Political Fallout and Power Struggles

The escalating tensions are linked to Kiir’s controversial decision earlier this year to dismiss officials seen as loyal to Machar. In response, Machar accused Kiir’s government of systematically undermining the peace agreement through unilateral actions.

Following the attack on the UN helicopter, Kiir urged restraint, stating that his government would "handle this crisis and remain steadfast in the path of peace."

South Sudan has struggled with deep-seated divisions since civil war erupted in late 2013, following a fallout between Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Machar, an ethnic Nuer. Accusations of an attempted coup led to widespread ethnic-based violence, with rebels loyal to Machar nearly seizing Juba before being repelled by South Sudanese troops and Ugandan special forces.

The conflict resulted in over 400,000 deaths during the five-year war that followed.

Ongoing Peace Efforts and Future Challenges

A 2018 peace agreement brokered by regional and international mediators saw Machar return to Juba as the country’s first vice president. However, deep mistrust between Kiir and Machar persists, with both leaders accused of repeatedly violating ceasefires.

Under pressure from the U.S. and other international stakeholders, South Sudan’s leadership faces increasing calls to accelerate the implementation of the 2018 peace accord and prepare for elections. Key obstacles remain, including delays in unifying the military command and implementing promised political reforms.

Originally planned for earlier years, the country’s long-postponed presidential elections are now scheduled for 2026, though uncertainties linger over whether South Sudan can achieve the necessary stability to hold credible polls.