Uganda deploys troops to Juba to ‘secure’ Kiir

JUBA — Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said on Monday it has deployed special forces to Juba, the capital city of South Sudan, to “secure’ President Salva Kiir Mayardit amid tensions.

Tensions have been growing in recent days in South Sudan after clashes erupted in mid-February between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and armed civilian groups in the country’s Nasir County.

Tensions escalated after the government announced plans to deploy new forces to Nasir County to rotate troops stationed in the area for several years.

The SSPDF commander, Major General Majur Dak, and 30 of his soldiers were killed during a United Nations evacuation operation in Nasir.

Kiir’s administration detained SPLA-IO acting Chief of Staff, General Gabriel Duop Lam, and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, alongside several senior military officials allied with Machar.

“As of two days ago, our Special Forces units entered Juba to secure it,” Muhoozi said in a series of posts on the X platform on Tuesday.

The military chief did not elaborate on how long the troops would be stationed in Juba.

“We, the UPDF, only recognize ONE President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir; he is our ‘Afande’ even in UPDF because he is the younger brother of Mzee [Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni].”

The powerful Ugandan military commanders promised to protect the territory of South Sudan at all costs, like their own.

“Any move against him is a declaration of war against Uganda! All those who commit that crime will learn what it means!” he said.