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25.04.2018 Opinion

Who’s Behind Purported Uganda Troop Deployment To Yemen?

By Swaib K. Nsereko
Whos Behind Purported Uganda Troop Deployment To Yemen?
25.04.2018 LISTEN

The recent leak by an Egyptian online publication about Uganda’s ‘planned’ deployment in Yemen after alleged anticipated withdraw of Sudan military from there, has hallmarks of a calculated intrigue to: (i)disorganize security systems in both Sudan and Uganda and (ii) weaken the coalition forces of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. This owes to the fact that such material is not prevalent in common sources. It is high classified information. Therefore, it was supplied by an interest party for particular goals such as in (i) and (ii) above. So, who is this party? Obviously it is it that benefits from it.

In this perspective, it couldn’t have been one of the coalition parties, for it portrays a negative message about their strength. Also it couldn’t be from Khartoum since it portrays its military as incapable of fighting. Neither could it have been Kampala since this is a rare deal that has no immediate logical cause, for which parliament to sanction that deployment. Therefore, the only beneficiary in it is the opponent of the Suuni Arab coalition—the Shi’a coalition. Before its dissemination the message must have been subjected to a critical analysis in terms of (a) best communication channel (b) impacts on diplomatic (security) cooperation between mentioned countries and (c) combatants on ground in Yemen.

The channel was deliberately chosen to be a popular website and in a country (Egypt) that is not only typically Sunni but a leader in that respect, with the world’s modern-day oldest university—Al-Azhar, such that Shi’a traces in connection to the story are totally erased. It impacts on Sudan such that its troops in Yemen lose morale of fighting since there is an anticipated ‘withdraw’ of them. It impacts on Uganda to reconsider its military cooperation with the coalition forces upon hearing of massive Sudanese ‘death’ due to the ‘superior’ Iranian fire-power. Whereas it generates considerable general anxiety on all troops currently on the coalition side inside Yemen, it drives confidence in the Houthi fighters and their backers. Therefore, it is imperative for the coalition forces and their respective governments to not simply sweep this issue under the carpet. They must, jointly or independently respond intelligently. They must deploy their international communication avenues in real time.

Khartoum has to protect its independence and capability to defend its interests using the competence of its security forces including the military. It must not be seen to be in Yemen as some country’s puppet. It must assert to be pursuing a particular cause in regard to national interests.

On the other hand, Uganda as a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has a right to join fellow members for regional or international calls upon its own discretion as indeed has been its regular practice in international missions. From its long experience in these games, Kampala can also settle for a mediatory role as neutral party between Sunni and Shia antagonists. In fact, its substantial Muslim population would be more delighted for the later.

Whereas Iran equally enjoys a right to answer assistance calls including to the threatened Houthi of Yemen, as a matter of fact, it’s not fathomable that its weaponry strength selectively inflicts damage to Sudanese troops and avoids other coalition forces.

Therefore, this narrative of news-spin that was roundly rejected by the Ugandan foreign ministry and defense forces is not innocent. Its calculated for damage purposes while boosting position of another party. It’s called soft power.

Swaib K. Nsereko
Lecturer in Department of Mass Communication, Islamic University in Uganda/ National Coordinator, Moral Reform Movement (MRM)

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