**Title: Two UN Peacekeepers Killed in Ambush in South Sudan**
Two United Nations peacekeepers lost their lives, and seven others sustained injuries following an ambush by unidentified gunmen in Jonglei State, South Sudan. The attack occurred on a patrol traveling to the remote area of Pajut, as reported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Monday.
The assault targeted a peacekeeping patrol, resulting in the deaths of two personnel. Among the injured were three additional peacekeepers, two members of the South Sudan National Police Service, and two civilian staff members. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the ambush.
In response to the attack, UNMISS deployed a quick reaction force to the area to secure the location and assist with emergency response efforts. Anita Kiki Gbeho, the head of UNMISS, condemned the violence, labeling the targeting of peacekeeping personnel as “unacceptable.” She urged South Sudanese authorities to conduct a “thorough and prompt investigation” to ensure accountability for those responsible for the attack. Gbeho also highlighted that assaults on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.
The security situation in South Sudan has been precarious since the country gained independence from Sudan in 2011. The region has experienced ongoing political instability and armed conflict, particularly following the outbreak of a civil war in 2013, which was rooted in a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and former First Vice President Riek Machar. Although a peace agreement was signed in 2018 to formally end the civil war, sporadic violence continues, exacerbated by local militias and disputes over resources.
Tensions have escalated in recent months, particularly following the detention of Machar on treason charges in March 2025, raising concerns about the stability of the 2018 peace agreement. His party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), has asserted that his arrest undermines the peace process. Machar has been accused of supporting the White Army, a militia predominantly composed of Nuer fighters, which has been involved in clashes in Upper Nile state.
The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan has deepened as ongoing insecurity has displaced hundreds of thousands of individuals. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), by the end of 2025, South Sudan had over 2.7 million internally displaced persons, with more than 9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Jonglei State has been a focal point of renewed fighting recently, with opposition forces seizing government outposts in December, prompting a government counteroffensive that included ground assaults and aerial bombardments. Reports indicate that violence displaced over 420,000 people across South Sudan between January and June, with Jonglei being the most affected area.
The ambush of the UN peacekeepers adds to the growing list of security risks faced by humanitarian personnel in South Sudan. The UN has reported that at least 36 aid workers have been killed in the country since the beginning of the year, surpassing the 31 deaths recorded throughout 2025. Furthermore, more than 450 incidents of violence against humanitarian workers and assets were reported between January and July, more than double the incidents recorded during the same period in 2025, according to UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Ramanathan Balakrishnan.
The situation in South Sudan remains critical, with the international community closely monitoring developments as violence and instability continue to pose significant challenges to peacekeeping efforts and humanitarian assistance in the region.