Two United Nations peacekeepers were killed on Monday when armed assailants ambushed a patrol in a remote area of South Sudan, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) announced.
Three other peacekeepers, two members of the South Sudanese police, and two civilian staff members of the mission sustained injuries during the attack by unidentified individuals. UNMISS stated that it had deployed a “Quick Reaction Force” to secure the area and support the emergency response following the incident. The patrol was en route to the Pajut area in Jonglei state when it came under fire.
"Such deadly violence targeting UNMISS personnel who are serving to support peace in South Sudan is unacceptable," said Anita Kiki Gbeho, the head of UNMISS, in a statement. The identities and nationalities of the two deceased peacekeepers have not yet been disclosed.
South Sudan has been experiencing widespread violence, with government troops engaged in combat against fighters and militias aligned with opposition leader Riek Machar. Machar, who was suspended as vice president, faces charges he claims are politically motivated. Attacks targeting UN peacekeepers are infrequent.
A peace agreement signed in 2018 between President Salva Kiir and Machar, who is reportedly under house arrest, has deteriorated, raising concerns about a potential return to full-scale civil war. UN figures indicate that over 450 incidents of violence against humanitarian workers and assets were reported between January and July, more than double the number recorded during the same period in the previous year.
The conflict intensified in December when opposition forces seized government outposts in Jonglei. The government has since conducted a counteroffensive, employing aerial bombardments and ground assaults, despite expressing a commitment to the peace agreement. The United States has called for dialogue between Kiir and Machar, urging immediate action to uphold peace and avert civil war.