Fighting between South Sudan and Sudan could easily spread throughout the region, drawing in each country鈥檚 allies. Sudan鈥檚 president has already used the j-word, describing its fight against non-Muslim South Sudan as a 鈥渏ihad鈥� or holy struggle, in what could be an appeal for volunteer fighters from other Muslim countries to fight alongside Sudan鈥檚 military forces in a defense of the faith.
South Sudan, too, has received indications that it might have some active allies. Ugandan Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the chief of defense forces, told the Kampala newspaper Daily Monitor that if Khartoum鈥檚 troops invade and press on toward Juba.
"We will not sit by and do nothing,鈥� Gen. Nyakairima told the Daily Monitor. 鈥淲e will be involved having suffered a proxy war by Khartoum. Sudan once supported rebels against the Ugandan government, including the Lord鈥檚 Resistance Army, Gen. Nyakairima added. "Our people in northern Uganda suffered and intelligence information also indicates that the LRA, who have an estimated 200 guns, are again in contact with Khartoum."
