South Sudan promises probe after deadly attack on UN convoy in Jonglei

JUBA — South Sudan government has promised to track down and prosecute the armed actors behind a deadly ambush on a United Nations peacekeeping convoy in Jonglei State that left two Ethiopian peacekeepers dead and seven others injured.

The attack occurred on Monday, August 24, as an eight-vehicle force-protection convoy belonging to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) was traveling from Bor toward Pajut. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, unidentified gunmen ambushed the convoy roughly 10 kilometers from Jalle.

The eight vehicles were carrying 38 personnel at the time of the assault, comprising Ethiopian peacekeepers, UNMISS civilian and military personnel, and four officers from the South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS).

Two Ethiopian peacekeepers were killed in the initial heavy gunfire, while seven others—including three Ethiopian peacekeepers, two South Sudanese police officers, and two UN civilian staff—sustained injuries.

In a statement issued following the incident, South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the ambush and called for an immediate joint investigation alongside international partners.

“Those found responsible will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

The ministry extended condolences to the government of Ethiopia and the families of the fallen soldiers, pledging to strengthen security coordination and operational cooperation with UNMISS forces across volatile transport corridors.

UNMISS deployed a Quick Reaction Force to secure the area around Jalle and manage emergency medical evacuations. Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS Anita Kiki Gbeho condemned the assault, warning that targeted attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, alongside diplomatic missions including the United States Embassy in Juba and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), echoed demands for an impartial probe to bring the perpetrators to justice.

No group has officially claimed responsibility for the ambush. Pajut, which was captured by the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) earlier this year, is located about 75 Kilometers from the state capital, Bor. However, it is currently controlled by the government.

The attack on the peacekeeping patrol comes against the backdrop of a major security crisis in Jonglei State, where political rivalries, military offensives, and intercommunal clashes have intensified throughout 2026.

Jonglei has historically been one of South Sudan’s most volatile regions, affected by cattle raiding, child abductions, and localized violence between ethnic youth militias. However, the security situation drastically deteriorated in late December 2025 following a breakdown in relations between government forces and opposition units, leading to widespread military mobilization across the state.

The conflict escalated rapidly in 2026 when the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) launched a major military campaign dubbed “Operation Enduring Peace.

The offensive was designed to counter advances by the SPLA-IO and affiliated armed groups, who had seized control of several key towns across central and northern Jonglei.

The military campaign, characterized by heavy ground clashes and intermittent airstrikes, triggered massive displacement and severely disrupted civilian movement between Bor, Duk, and Uror counties.

According to UN humanitarian updates, more than 280,000 people have been displaced within Jonglei State since the start of the 2026 fighting, driving severe food insecurity and forcing thousands of families to flee into neighboring Lakes and Upper Nile states.

The broader security collapse in Jonglei has created an increasingly permissive environment for non-state armed groups and rogue youth militias. Heavy weaponry remnants from active frontline battles have flooded remote counties, while political stagnation at the national level has stalled critical provisions of the 2018 peace agreement—specifically the integration and redeployment of unified forces and comprehensive civilian disarmament.

Humanitarian agencies and peacekeeping patrols have faced heightened risks as a result. UN agencies report that South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous operating environments for aid personnel globally, with at least 36 humanitarian workers killed across the country in 2026 alone.