Uganda pledges military support to Ethiopia amid regional tensions

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has pledged military support to Ethiopia, stating that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) are ready to deploy troops if formally requested by Addis Ababa. This declaration follows a briefing by the Ethiopian Ambassador to Uganda, Etsegenet Bezabih Yimenu, regarding the security situation in northern Ethiopia.

The pledge comes amid heightened regional instability in the Horn of Africa. Diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have collapsed following Ethiopia’s decision to close its embassy in Asmara and expel Eritrean diplomats. This breakdown coincides with renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia between federal forces and an opposition alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). While Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting rebels, Asmara has denied these claims.

General Kainerugaba has reaffirmed solidarity with the Ethiopian National Defence Force and emphasized the importance of the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement. The potential for Ugandan military involvement, combined with the rupture in Ethiopia-Eritrea ties, has raised concerns among analysts regarding the risk of conflict spreading across the region.