2 UN peacekeepers killed in an ambush in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan - Two United Nations peacekeepers lost their lives on Monday after their patrol was ambushed by armed men while heading to a remote area in South Sudan's Jonglei state, according to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The attack left three peacekeepers, two South Sudanese police officers, and two UNMISS civilian staff members injured.

UNMISS chief Anita Kiki Gbeho condemned the deadly violence, stating that such attacks targeting UNMISS personnel who support peace in the country are unacceptable. The identities and nationalities of the deceased peacekeepers have not been released. South Sudan has been plagued by violence, with government forces battling opposition fighters and militias loyal to suspended vice president Riek Machar.

The peace deal signed in 2018 has since collapsed, raising concerns about the potential for a renewed civil war. Over 450 incidents of violence against humanitarian workers and assets have been reported since January, more than double the number from the same period last year. The conflict intensified in December when opposition forces captured government outposts in Jonglei.

In response, the government launched a counteroffensive using aerial bombardments and ground assaults, despite committing to the 2018 peace agreement. The United States has called for dialogue between President Salva Kiir and Machar to prevent a return to full-blown civil war.