Uganda deploys troops to South Sudan amid rising tensions between Kiir and Machar

In a move signaling deepening instability in South Sudan, Uganda has deployed an undisclosed number of special forces to Juba, the country’s capital, to reinforce the fragile government of President Salva Kiir. The deployment follows escalating tensions between Kiir and his deputy, Riek Machar, raising fears of a return to civil war in Africa’s youngest nation.

Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, a spokesperson for the Ugandan military, confirmed the deployment on Tuesday, stating, “We sent a force there two days ago. We are not there for peacekeeping.” Instead, the Ugandan troops are there to support Kiir’s government against a potential rebel advance, he added.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, a long-time ally of Kiir, has historically intervened in South Sudan’s conflicts to bolster his leadership. This latest military support underscores the growing instability in the oil-rich country, which has faced recurrent political turmoil and violence since gaining independence in 2011.

Escalating Conflict and International Concern

Tensions have been mounting in South Sudan, particularly after recent clashes in the north between government troops and the White Army, a militia widely believed to be allied with Machar. The U.S. Embassy in Juba responded by ordering non-emergency personnel to leave the country, while the United Nations warned of “an alarming regression that could erase years of hard-won progress.”

Last week, a United Nations helicopter evacuating government troops from the conflict-ridden town of Nasir in Upper Nile State was shot at, killing a South Sudanese general. Shortly after, government troops surrounded Machar’s residence in Juba and detained several of his key allies, including Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam.

Machar’s camp has accused Kiir of systematically sidelining his allies and violating their fragile peace agreement. “Persistent violations through unilateral decisions and decrees threaten the very existence of our peace pact,” Machar said earlier this year, following a wave of dismissals of officials loyal to him.

Kiir, however, downplayed the recent escalation, assuring citizens in a statement that “our government will handle this crisis and remain steadfast in the path of peace.”

A History of Bloodshed

South Sudan’s political rivalry has long been a source of devastation. The country descended into civil war in 2013 after tensions between Kiir, a Dinka, and Machar, a Nuer, spiraled into ethnic violence. The brutal conflict left over 400,000 people dead before a peace deal was brokered in 2018, allowing Machar to return as first vice president.

Despite international pressure, however, the agreement has failed to fully stabilize the country. Kiir and Machar remain deeply distrustful of one another, with both accused of repeatedly violating ceasefires. The lack of progress on critical reforms such as the unification of the army has further stalled the peace process.

With presidential elections already postponed multiple times and now scheduled for 2026, the latest military developments raise serious concerns about whether South Sudan can avoid another descent into chaos.

As Uganda backs Kiir’s government and the White Army mobilizes in the north, fears of renewed civil war are growing. The coming weeks will likely determine whether South Sudan moves toward lasting peace or another bloody conflict.