Two UN peacekeepers killed in South Sudan

Two United Nations peacekeepers have been killed in South Sudan, according to the UN mission in the country. The attack occurred when a patrol was ambushed by "armed unknown individuals" in the Jonglei state, as they were traveling toward the town of Pajut.

The UN mission strongly condemned the incident, emphasizing that attacks against peacekeepers can be classified as "war crimes." In addition to the fatalities, seven other individuals were injured in the assault. These included three fellow peacekeepers, two police officers, and two civilian staff members. The nationalities of the fallen peacekeepers have not yet been disclosed.

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armed unknown individuals

Jonglei state has recently been a focal point of conflict between government forces and opposition groups. South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but has been plagued by persistent deadly conflicts since then. The UN mission itself has reported that over 160 peacekeepers have lost their lives in the line of duty since its inception.

The overall security situation in South Sudan has deteriorated significantly in recent times, marked by the resurgence of conflict between supporters of President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. A peace agreement signed in 2018, which aimed to end a devastating five-year civil war that claimed around 400,000 lives, has ultimately failed to bring lasting stability to the nation.

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War crimes can represent attacks on UN peacekeepers.