Two Ethiopian UN peacekeepers killed and seven injured in South Sudan ambush

Ambush on Jonglei patrol

On Monday, 24 August 2026, unidentified gunmen attacked a United Nations patrol travelling toward Pajut in South Sudan's central Jonglei State. The assault resulted in the deaths of two peacekeepers from Ethiopia and injured seven others, including three peacekeepers, two South Sudan National Police Service officers, and two civilian mission workers. Following the attack, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) dispatched a Quick Reaction Force to secure the location and assist with emergency response operations.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated at a press briefing that the patrol was conducting routine security work and appeared to have been deliberately targeted.

These are part of regular patrols that the U.N. has been doing in trying to help the constant insecurity in the area.

International reaction and legal status

UNMISS leadership condemned the ambush and called on South Sudanese authorities to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice. Anita Kiki Gbeho, the head of UNMISS, issued a statement condemning the deadly assault against mission staff.

Such deadly violence targeting UNMISS personnel who are serving to support peace in South Sudan is unacceptable.

Both UNMISS and Dujarric noted that attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. In June 2026, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to improve accountability for attacks against peacekeepers. The deaths in Jonglei bring the global total of UN peacekeepers killed in malicious acts during 2026 to nine, which includes seven UNIFIL personnel killed in Lebanon in March.

Escalating conflict and aid worker risks

The ambush took place amid renewed military friction between government forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and fighters allied with opposition leader Riek Machar. Machar was suspended as vice president last year on treason charges and remains under house arrest. The collapse of the 2018 peace deal, which halted a civil war that killed over 400,000 people, has deepened concerns regarding a broader conflict.

Humanitarian workers have also faced severe dangers across South Sudan. UN figures record that 36 aid workers have been killed in the country since the start of 2026. In addition, more than 450 violent incidents targeting humanitarian workers and assets were registered between January and July 2026, more than double the figure from the same period in 2025.

Mission deployment and regional security

Instability in Jonglei intensified in December 2025 when opposition groups captured government outposts. The South Sudanese military responded with a counteroffensive in January 2026 involving ground strikes and aerial bombardments. UNMISS currently deploys roughly 12,200 personnel, including approximately 9,000 military troops and 1,200 police officers from 74 nations, with major contributions from India, Rwanda, Nepal, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and China. More than 160 UN personnel have died since the mission was established on 8 July 2011.