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               Uganda Denies Troops Supporting South Sudan Leader

   by Peter Clottey

   A spokesman for Uganda's Foreign Ministry has denied reports that the
   government in Kampala sent troops from the Uganda People's Defense
   Force (UPDF) to support South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in the
   ongoing conflict in Africa's newest nation.
   Fred Opolot said the UPDF troops would this week attempt to rescue
   about 2,000 Ugandan citizens trapped in South Sudan. The conflict there
   between supporters of President Kiir and former Vice president Riek
   Marcher has reportedly left more than 500 people killed, and has forced
   tens of thousands of people to flee from their homes.
   "Our major concern is to ensure that [our citizens] are safe, and if
   not they are evacuated so that process is ongoing," said Opolot.
   "Uganda People's Defense Forces [are] in Juba to secure the airport, in
   order to ensure that the evacuation process goes very smoothly."
   The violence in South Sudan erupted after President Salva Kiir, a
   Dinka, accused former vice president Riek Machar, a Nuer, of attempting
   a coup.  Marcher, who is in hiding, denied the accusation.
   Opolot rejected suspicions that President Yoweri Museveni supported
   South Sudan's leader in the conflict.
   "Those suspicions are completely unfounded," said Opolot.  "We have a
   lot of Ugandans in South Sudan and their security is of the most
   importance for us right now, it is our focus.  So in as far as the UPDF
   is in South Sudan to prop up Salva Kiir that is not true, and they are
   unfounded."
   Last week President Barack Obama sent 45 U.S. service personnel to the
   region on a mission he said is aimed at protecting U.S. personnel and
   the U.S. Embassy.  In a White House statement issued during the
   weekend, President Obama stressed the importance of the U.S. evacuation
   mission and said South Sudan's leaders had a responsibility to assist
   U.S. efforts.
   Opolot said the government in Kampala was ensuring citizens trapped due
   to the conflict in neighboring South Sudan are safe and would evacuate
   those directly affected by the conflict.
   He expressed concern about the safety of Ugandan citizens trapped in
   Jonglei state at the United Nations base where there have been reports
   of fierce fighting.  Opolot said Uganda troops would this week attempt
   to evacuate citizens from the U.N. base.
   "UPDF will attempt to make sure that they are rescued.  But obviously
   they have been facing some fire from the fighters there," said the
   spokesman.
   He said Uganda wanted to be part of the solution to help resolve the
   conflict in South Sudan.
   "At the onset of these troubles, President Museveni did try to engage
   Salva Kiir," said Opolot.
   He said Uganda's minister for international relations was part of the
   African Union led delegation that held a series of meetings with both
   warring parties as part of an effort to resolve the conflict.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/uganda-denies-troops-supporting-south
   -sudan-leader/1815470.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/uganda-denies-troops-supporting-south-sudan-leader/1815470.html