Armed Men Kill Two UN Peacekeepers in South Sudan Ambush

Unidentified armed men ambushed a United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) patrol on Monday in Jonglei state, killing two peacekeepers and injuring seven others. The victims include three peacekeepers, two members of the South Sudan National Police Service, and two civilian staff. The patrol was traveling toward the town of Pajut when the attack occurred.

UNMISS deployed a Quick Reaction Force to secure the area and assist with emergency operations. Mission leadership warned that the ambush could constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law and called for a prompt investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The violence comes as instability worsens following the collapse of a 2018 power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. Jonglei state has become a focal point for conflict between government forces and opposition fighters. While attacks on peacekeepers remain rare, violence against humanitarian workers has surged, with more than 450 incidents reported between January and July 2026.