Uganda says it is pulling its soldiers out of South Sudan, where they have supported President Salva Kiir in the country's civil war.
The Ugandan army said that the withdrawal of its estimated 2,000 troops began as of Monday, while in Kampala, armed forces chief General Katumba Wamala said the troops should be out of South Sudan by the first week in November.
Uganda deployed the troops soon after fighting erupted between supporters of Kiir and supporters of his former deputy Riek Machar in December 2013. Removal of the troops was a condition in the peace agreement signed by Kiir and Machar in August.
Twenty-one months of fighting in South Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced about 2 million people from their homes.
Tensions remain high in the country despite efforts to implement the peace agreement. Clashes between government and rebel forces continue, with each side accusing the other of violating a cease-fire.
And last week, Kiir declared South Sudan would be repartitioned into 28 states, angering opponents who said he acted unilaterally.
According to terms of the peace deal, the sides are due to set up a transitional government in November.
