Dr. Riek Machar, First Vice-President of South Sudan, has called for UN, AU, and IGAD intervention regarding Uganda’s military presence in South Sudan, claiming it undermines the 2018 peace agreement. In a letter, he cited Uganda’s troop deployments and airstrikes as violations and emphasized the need for mediation to maintain peace and support the country’s democracy transition.
Dr. Riek Machar, South Sudan’s First Vice-President, has formally requested intervention from the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regarding the presence of Ugandan military forces in South Sudan. He cautioned that this military involvement poses a risk to the fragile peace established by the 2018 peace agreement.
In a letter dated March 23, Dr. Machar accused Uganda of breaching international agreements by deploying troops without authorization from South Sudan’s transitional government. This correspondence was directed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye, and IGAD’s chair, Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is also the president of Djibouti.
As the leader of the SPLM/A-IO, Dr. Machar emphasized that Uganda’s military presence contravenes the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS), which stipulates the withdrawal of foreign forces. He highlighted specific violations of Articles 2.1.5 and 2.1.7, along with a ceasefire agreement from 2017.
Further concerns were raised in the letter regarding alleged airstrikes carried out by Ugandan forces in Upper Nile and Jonglei states, reportedly targeting civilians. As of now, the Ugandan government has not issued a response to these allegations.
Dr. Machar warned that the ongoing situation could jeopardize the slow transition to democracy in South Sudan and emphasized the need for mediation by the UN Security Council, AU, and IGAD. He remarked, “Uganda was a key guarantor of the peace agreement. We expected President [Yoweri] Museveni to support its implementation, not undermine it.”
Ugandan troops originally entered South Sudan in 2014 under an agreement with the previous government. Dr. Machar contended that the present government never ratified this agreement, thus, their current presence is unlawful according to the 2018 peace framework. The UN has upheld an arms embargo on South Sudan since 2018, raising concerns about how Ugandan forces are equipped with heavy weaponry.
Recently, Uganda has dispatched special forces amid worries that South Sudan could revert to civil war, with Uganda’s military leadership asserting that these troops were deployed to “secure” Juba and assist President Salva Kiir. Tensions have risen dramatically between President Kiir and Dr. Machar due to faltering power-sharing dynamics, with incidents of clashes being reported.
In summary, Dr. Riek Machar has urgently requested international intervention regarding Ugandan military forces in South Sudan, citing violations of peace agreements. His letter to key global leaders highlights concerns over foreign military presence, associated civilian casualties, and the potential derailment of the country’s transition to democracy. He asserts the need for mediation to uphold peace accords and regulate regional military involvement.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
