United Nations: Two Peacekeepers Killed in Ambush in South Sudan

The United Nations said that two Ethiopian peacekeepers were killed and seven others were injured in an ambush on Monday in Jonglei State, South Sudan.

This brings the number of peacekeepers killed while on duty around the world to nine this year.

Spokesman for the UN, Stéphane Dujarric, said that among the injured were three peacekeepers, two South Sudanese police officers, and two civilian staff members.

He added that the attack was carried out by unidentified armed men, who appeared to have deliberately targeted the patrol.

Dujarric said, “This is part of routine patrols conducted by the UN to help establish security in the area.”

He further stated that the UN has called on the relevant authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

He emphasized that “attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.”

He added that the latest violence “has raised the number of peacekeepers killed in malicious acts since January 1 of this year to nine.”

Attacks on UN peacekeepers in South Sudan are not uncommon, as the international organization conducts patrols in volatile areas marked by internal conflict and occasional clashes with government forces.

In June, the UN Security Council approved a resolution aimed at strengthening accountability for such attacks, amid growing concern over escalating violence and declining rates of accountability.

This came in the wake of a series of incidents and attacks targeting UN personnel, including the killing of seven peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), following the outbreak of a new round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in early March.