A deadly ambush in South Sudan has resulted in the deaths of two United Nations peacekeepers and injured seven others, including three peacekeepers, two police officers, and two civilian staff. The attack occurred on Monday when a patrol was traveling towards Pajut in Jonglei state and was fired upon by unidentified gunmen.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) dispatched a Quick Reaction Force to secure the area and assist with emergency measures. Anita Kiki Gbeho, the head of UNMISS, condemned the assault, stating that such violence targeting UN personnel is unacceptable. The names and nationalities of the two killed peacekeepers have not been made public.
The attack is a stark reminder of the widespread instability plaguing South Sudan. Government forces are currently locked in conflict with fighters aligned with opposition leader Riek Machar, who was suspended as vice president last year and is currently under house arrest. A key 2018 peace accord signed by President Salva Kiir and Machar has effectively unraveled, prompting fears of a potential return to full-blown civil war.
According to UN statistics, more than 450 acts of violence aimed at aid workers and humanitarian assets were recorded between January and July, more than twice the amount logged during the same period last year. Fighting escalated in December when opposition groups captured government positions across Jonglei, prompting a counteroffensive by government troops in January.
The United States has called for renewed negotiations between Kiir and Machar, urging urgent action to uphold peace and mitigate the risk of civil war through an immediate return to dialogue among the parties to the 2018 peace agreement.
