Nairobi (Reuters) – The Ugandan army chief said on Tuesday that his country has deployed special forces to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, “to secure it” after tensions between President Salva Kiir and his First Vice President Riek Machar raised fears of a return to civil war.

A spokesman for the Ugandan army said the deployment came at the request of the South Sudanese government.

This move comes at a critical time, as the country faces a series of deadly clashes and political arrests that threaten the fragile peace agreement signed in 2018.

Recent weeks have seen a notable increase in violence in various parts of South Sudan.

According to Associated Press reports, violent clashes erupted in the town of Nasir in Upper Nile State between government forces and armed groups, resulting in the death of an officer and several soldiers.

These clashes were described as the most violent in months, increasing concerns about the future of the peace agreement.

Additionally, a United Nations helicopter carrying out a humanitarian evacuation mission came under heavy fire, resulting in the death of one crew member and injuring two others.

The UN condemned the attack, considering it a flagrant violation of international law and reflecting the increasing insecurity in the country.

Ugandan intervention

According to The Independent newspaper, the Ugandan military intervention reflects Kampala’s concern about the repercussions of the escalating crisis in South Sudan, especially as any escalation could lead to the displacement of large numbers of refugees to Uganda, increasing pressure on national resources and threatening internal stability.

In a series of posts on the X platform (formerly Twitter), Museveni’s son and Ugandan army chief of staff, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, affirmed that his country would not tolerate any attempt to undermine President Salva Kiir’s authority.

He added, “We in the Ugandan army recognize only one president of South Sudan, His Excellency President Salva Kiir… and any move against him is considered a declaration of war on Uganda.”

This strong statement reflects Uganda’s commitment to supporting Salva Kiir’s government, especially given the close relationship between him and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who is considered one of his most prominent regional supporters.

Risk of peace agreement collaps

Although the peace agreement signed in 2018 ended a bloody five-year civil war that claimed the lives of more than 400,000 people, ongoing political and military tensions threaten to collapse this agreement and return the country to a spiral of violence.

According to Associated Press reports, the political arrests carried out by President Salva Kiir’s government against two ministers and several military leaders loyal to Machar, along with recent armed confrontations, are a strong blow to reconciliation efforts and may push the country towards a new conflict that threatens the security and stability of the entire region.

Call for Restraint

In light of these developments, the United Nations and international organizations have called for restraint and urged all parties to return to the dialogue table, warning that escalating violence could lead to the collapse of political progress achieved in recent years.

BBC sources also confirmed that there is increasing regional and international pressure on South Sudan’s leaders to adhere to the peace agreement and avoid military escalation, especially since a return to war would lead to a new humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

As security and political tensions continue to escalate, South Sudan’s future remains uncertain, as the country remains poised between the possibility of strengthening peace through intensive diplomatic efforts and the risk of sliding into an armed conflict that could have devastating consequences for the country and the entire region