Two United Nations peacekeepers from Ethiopia were killed and seven others injured when unidentified gunmen ambushed a UNMISS patrol in South Sudan’s eastern Jonglei state on Monday, the UN mission confirmed.
The patrol was travelling to Pajut, a remote area in Jonglei’s eastern region, when it came under attack. The seven injured people included three additional peacekeepers, two South Sudan National Police Service officers, and two civilian staff members. UNMISS immediately dispatched a quick reaction force to secure the area and support the emergency response.
UNMISS chief Anita Kiki Gbeho condemned the attack, calling deadly violence targeting peacekeeping personnel “unacceptable” and urging South Sudanese authorities to conduct a thorough and prompt investigation. The mission noted that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.
A Record Year for Aid Worker Deaths
The ambush adds to what has been the deadliest year for humanitarian workers in South Sudan. At least 36 aid workers have been killed in the country since January 2026, already surpassing the 31 killed in the entirety of 2025. The UN has repeatedly flagged South Sudan as one of the most dangerous places in the world for relief personnel.
The killing brings to nine the total number of UN peacekeepers killed in South Sudan this year. UNMISS, established when the country gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is mandated to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access, monitor human rights abuses, and support the peace process.
Peace Process Under Growing Strain
The attack comes amid rising violence that has put South Sudan’s fragile peace deal under severe pressure. Renewed clashes between rival factions and community-level conflicts have displaced hundreds of thousands more people this year. A UN-backed commission warned on August 20 that renewed fighting risks new atrocity crimes if left unchecked.
South Sudan descended into civil war in 2013 after a political struggle between President Salva Kiir and his then-deputy Riek Machar. The current peace agreement has struggled to hold, with periodic outbreaks of violence disrupting a promised transition to elections.
Sources: Reuters; UN News; UNMISS; topafricanews.com
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