{UAH} Uganda to withdraw troops from South Sudan

Uganda to withdraw troops from South Sudan: military chief

Xinhua | 2014-3-15 11:31:17
By Agencies

Uganda's military chief Gen. Katumba Wamala on Friday said the East
African country will withdraw its troops from neighboring South Sudan
following a decision by regional leaders to deploy a stabilization
force there.

Gen. Wamala told reporters here in the eastern Ugandan district of
Jinja that Uganda will withdraw the troops as soon as the
stabilization force is deployed.

"The time frame will depend on how soon the forces which have been
tasked land on the ground. I can't put on dates, weeks. It will depend
on how fast we get those troops on the ground," he said.

"What we shouldn't do and will be regrettable, if we created a vacuum.
If we leave without the boots on the ground, it will create a vacuum,
that vacuum is very unwelcome," he added.

Regional leaders meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on
Thursday authorized the prompt deployment of a Protection and
Deterrent Force (PDF) in South Sudan.

Uganda deployed her troops in South Sudan in December last year in
what government described as a preventive measure against a possible
genocide. It also said it had deployed two battalions at the
invitation of the government of South Sudan.

Uganda has been facing international pressure to pull out its troops
from South Sudan with arguments that its presence may jeopardize the
ongoing peace efforts.

Violence broke out in South Sudan mid December last year after
soldiers loyal to former vice president Riek Machar fought government
troops.

The fighting forced hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese to flee to
neighboring countries.

There are ongoing talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to help
end the crisis in the country that got independence in July 2011 after
breaking away from Sudan.

            Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
           Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"