Two UN Peacekeepers Killed in Ambush in South Sudan's Jonglei State

Two United Nations peacekeepers were killed on Monday when their patrol was ambushed by unidentified armed men in a remote part of South Sudan. The attack occurred as the team was traveling to the Pajut area in Jonglei state, according to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The mission reported that three other peacekeepers, two South Sudanese police officers, and two civilian staff members were also injured in the assault. In response, UNMISS has deployed a Quick Reaction Force to secure the area and assist with the emergency response.

Anita Kiki Gbeho, the head of UNMISS, condemned the attack, stating that such deadly violence against personnel serving to support peace in the country is unacceptable. The identities and nationalities of the two peacekeepers who were killed have not yet been disclosed.

The incident highlights the volatile security situation in South Sudan, where government forces are engaged in conflict with militias loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar. Machar was suspended as vice president last year on charges of treason, which he claims are politically motivated. The 2018 peace deal between President Salva Kiir and Machar, who is currently under house arrest, has collapsed, raising fears of a return to full-scale civil war.

Violence has escalated since December when opposition forces captured government outposts in Jonglei. The government has since conducted a counteroffensive involving aerial bombardments and ground assaults, despite its official commitment to the peace agreement. According to UN figures, more than 450 incidents of violence against humanitarian workers and assets were reported between January and July, more than double the number from the same period last year.

The United States has called for urgent dialogue between Kiir and Machar to uphold the peace agreement and mitigate the risk of civil war.