Two United Nations peacekeepers have been killed after a patrol operated by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) was ambushed in Jonglei State.
The attack occurred on Monday, August 24, 2026, as the UN patrol was travelling toward the remote area of Pajut. According to UNMISS, unidentified armed men attacked the patrol, resulting in the deaths of two peacekeepers and injuries to seven other people.
The two peacekeepers who lost their lives, as well as three other injured peacekeepers, were Ethiopian nationals, according to a United Nations spokesperson. The other people injured in the attack included two members of the South Sudan National Police Service and two civilian staff members attached to the UN mission.
Following the ambush, UNMISS deployed a Quick Reaction Force to secure the area and support the emergency response. The mission also called for a prompt investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack and efforts to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The head of UNMISS, Anita Kiki Gbeho, strongly condemned the incident, describing violence against UN personnel serving to support peace in South Sudan as unacceptable. She also expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of the peacekeepers who died and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack and extended his condolences to the families of the two Ethiopian peacekeepers, as well as to the people and government of Ethiopia. He called for an investigation that would lead to the prosecution of those responsible.
The identity of the group responsible for the ambush was not immediately established, and no group had claimed responsibility at the time of the reports.
The incident has raised renewed concerns about the security situation in South Sudan, particularly in Jonglei State, where armed conflict, intercommunal violence and political tensions have contributed to instability.
South Sudan has struggled with conflict and political instability since gaining independence in 2011. A 2018 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar had raised hopes of lasting peace, but tensions between rival political and military forces have continued to threaten the country’s stability. Recent fighting has increased fears that the country could return to a wider conflict.
The latest attack is also significant because assaults on UN peacekeepers are considered particularly serious. The United Nations has indicated that attacks against its personnel may constitute war crimes under international law. The latest deaths bring the number of peacekeepers killed in malicious acts since the beginning of 2026 to nine, according to the UN.
The United Nations continues to maintain its peacekeeping presence in South Sudan as part of efforts to support peace, protect civilians and assist stability in the country. The attack on the patrol therefore represents a serious challenge to the mission’s work in areas affected by insecurity.
As investigations continue, the UN has called for those responsible to be identified and held accountable. The deaths of the two peacekeepers have also prompted renewed calls for greater protection of personnel working to promote peace and humanitarian stability in South Sudan.
Source: Thepressradio.com
