South Sudan’s first vice-president Dr. Riek Machar has called for immediate withdrawal of Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) from South Sudan.
In a letter to the United Nations, African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional bloc, Machar said that Uganda’s military intervention in South Sudan had violated a 2018 peace deal.
Dr. Machar urged the international community including AUSPC, IGAD and the UN Security Council to intervene and ask the government of the Republic of Uganda to withdraw her forces from the country.
“We therefore call upon AUPSC, IGAD and the UNSC to intervene and ask the government of the Republic of Uganda to withdraw her forces from the country.” the letter partly read.
Dr. Machar expressed that the peace agreement continues to face most obstacles that need intervention from UN, regional bloc and international community at large.
“The R-ARCSS is faced with serious challenges. There is fear from our past that these challenges including the Ugandan intervention may lead to a collapse of the agreement.” Dr Machar in the letter.
He added that despites series of challenges the SPLM/A remain committed to the implementation of 2018 peace agreement.
“We reiterate our commitment to peace and peaceful resolutions of all the challenges hindering the country, including the R-ARCSS” he said.
The SPLM-IO leader said the Ugandan forces have been taking part in airstrikes against civilians in Longechuk, Nasir, and Ulang in Upper Nile State and Akobo County in Jonglei State.
