The European Union reiterates its commitment to the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan and the sovereignty of the Sudanese people. 

Plans for parallel ‘government’ by the Rapid Support Forces risk the partition of the country and jeopardise the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people for an inclusive Sudanese-owned process that leads to the restoration of civilian rule. 

The European Union calls upon the parties to the conflict to end the harassment of civil society representatives and to refrain from restricting civic space. The EU’s framework for restrictive measures on Sudan targets people or entities undermining efforts to resume the political transition in the country. EEAS

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and first son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba in the wee hours of Tuesday revealed on his X (formerly Twitter) handle that Ugandan troops are in South Sudan to protect President Salva Kiir and secure the capital, Juba.

Shortly before the disclosure to secure Juba, he wrote that the UPDF recognizes only Salva Kiir as the president of South Sudan and that any move against him is akin to a declaration of war against Uganda.

“We the UPDF, only recognize ONE President of South Sudan, H.E. Salva Kiir, he is our ‘Afande’ even in UPDF because he is the younger brother of Mzee [Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni]! Any move against him is a declaration of war against Uganda! All those who commit that crime will learn what it means!” he wrote.

“As of 2 days ago, our Special Forces units entered Juba to secure it,” Gen. Kainerugaba added.

He polished off with: “We shall protect the entire territory of South Sudan like it was our own. That is the will of the Commander-in-Chief!”

Known for his outbursts and controversial late-night and early-morning posts on X, the Ugandan president’s son has in the past often riled neighboring countries and created uncomfortable diplomatic spats from which Ugandan officials have distanced themselves.

In a controversial post in December last year, Gen. Kainerugaba said, “I’m going to give only ONE WARNING to ALL white mercenaries operating in eastern DRC. From 2nd January 2025, we will attack all mercenaries in our area of operations.”

He added: “In the name of Jesus Christ, the God of all Bachwezi, there shall not be left one white mercenary in DRC this time next year!”

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reacted by summoning Uganda’s Acting Chargé d’Affaires in Kinsasha, Matata Twaha Magara, to seek clarification on the Uganda government’s official position on the matter.

Relatedly, on 18 December 2024, Sudan demanded an official apology from the Government of Ugandan for what it referred to as the offensive and dangerous comments published by the Ugandan Chief of Defense Forces on the X platform in which he threatened to seize Khartoum as soon as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

In a statement issued by its foreign ministry, Sudan also called on the African Union and regional and international organizations to condemn these statements, and what they entail in terms of a clear threat to regional and international security and an insult to Africans.

Gen. Kainerugaba’s controversial post on X was deleted, like many others

According to the statement, the Sudanese foreign ministry considered the Ugandan army chief’s comments reckless, and irresponsible and said “They represent a complete departure from the rules of conduct of those occupying senior official and military positions, including prudence, discipline, and choice of words.”

“These comments embody an abnormal precedent and a regrettable level of disregard for international law, the norms of dealing between states, and the requirements of mutual respect between brotherly and friendly peoples,” the statement read in part. “The threat of war, the violation of the sovereignty of states, and the challenge to the Charter of the United Nations, the African Union, and the rules of international law are too dangerous to be a subject of trivialization, seeking the spotlight, and astonishment.”

Before that, Gen. Kaineruga threatened to invade Kenya and capture Nairobi within a few days. His father, President Museveni would later apologize to Kenya.

The Ugandan Army Chief is no stranger to South Sudan and was severally in the country when the UPDF intervened after the war erupted in December 2013. At the time, the Ugandan foreign ministry said the UPDF came in to protect Juba International Airport and to ensure the evacuation of Ugandans and other nationals. However, the UPDF soon took on a larger mandate, including fighting rebels on the Juba-Bor Road and recapturing Bor Town between late December 2013 and early January 2014. Observers blamed the Ugandans for using cluster bombs against the rebels. Radio Tamazuj

Kaetuai was killed by armed gangs while on duty in Haiti. The Multinational Security Support Mission confirmed his death in late February, stating that he succumbed to injuries sustained during an operation. The National Police Service later reported that he was shot by suspected gang members and succumbed to gunshot wounds despite efforts to rush him to hospital.

The body of Police Officer Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, who was killed while serving on a peacekeeping mission in Haiti, arrived in Nairobi on Monday evening and was received with full honors at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli led a delegation of officers to receive the fallen officer’s remains. Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko, family members, and friends, led by his father, Salaash Kaetuai, were also present.

The body was transferred to Chiromo Mortuary for preservation as burial preparations continue. The burial date will be announced in the coming days.

Kaetuai was killed by armed gangs while on duty in Haiti. The Multinational Security Support Mission confirmed his death in late February, stating that he succumbed to injuries sustained during an operation. The National Police Service later reported that he was shot by suspected gang members and succumbed to gunshot wounds despite efforts to rush him to hospital.

Foreign Ministry Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei expressed his condolences on X, saying he was “heartbroken by the loss of a member of Kenya’s deployment.”

Haiti has been grappling with escalating gang violence, with the United Nations reporting 5,601 killings in 2024—1,000 more than the previous year. The UN also documented 315 lynchings of alleged gang members and 281 suspected summary executions by police. More than a million Haitians have been displaced due to the crisis, according to the UN migration agency.

The Kenyan-led peacekeeping mission faced temporary uncertainty in February when the US, under President Donald Trump’s directive, suspended international funding. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later issued a waiver, allowing the operation to proceed. Capital News