South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar has accused Uganda of violating international agreements by deploying its military forces into the restive nation.
Machar says has demanded immediate withdrawal of the Uganda People's Defence Forces from South Sudan.
In a strongly worded letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres seen by Nile Post, Machar claimed that Uganda’s military intervention constitutes a grave breach of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access (COHA).
He alleged that Ugandan forces, equipped with armoured and air force units, have engaged in airstrikes against civilians in Nasir, Longechuk, and Ulang in Upper Nile State, and Akobo County in Jonglei State.
“The presence of the Ugandan military shall impede the process of the transition to democracy. The country cannot afford any kind of violence; our people have suffered for too long,” Machar said in the letter.
The arrests follow intense fighting in recent weeks in the strategic northern town of Nasir between national forces and the White Army militia, a loosely-organised group mostly comprising armed Nuer, Machar's ethnic group.
The White Army fought alongside Machar's forces in the 2013-2018 civil war that pitted them against predominantly ethnic Dinka troops loyal to President Kiir.
Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, who hails from Nasir, and the deputy head of the army Gabriel Doup Lam were arrested, while all other senior military officials allied with Machar were placed under house arrest, said Machar's spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang.
The Ugandan military intervention, Machar argued, is not backed by the current government under the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU).
He pointed out that the original Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), signed between Uganda and South Sudan in 2014, is no longer valid under the revitalized peace framework.
Machar urged the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN Security Council (UNSC) to intervene and pressure Uganda to withdraw its forces.
He warned that continued military intervention could lead to the collapse of the fragile peace agreement and escalate violence in the country.
Uganda has yet to officially respond to Machar’s accusations. However, the Ugandan government has historically justified its military presence in South Sudan as a means of ensuring regional stability and security.
Some of Machar’s allegations may hold weight, as CDF Muhoozi tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that the SPLA-IO is about to be annihilated, praising the Ugandan Air Force for its successful destruction of enemy positions.
The tweet, which included a video showing an airstrike with explosions, suggests that Uganda's military is actively engaged in combat operations in South Sudan.