Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Two soldiers from the United Nations peacekeeping forces were killed today in an ambush set by armed individuals while on patrol in a remote area of South Sudan.
The UN mission in Sudan reported in a statement that the attack, carried out by unknown assailants, also resulted in injuries to three peacekeepers, two police officers from South Sudan, and two civilian staff members of the mission.
The mission indicated that it has deployed a “rapid response force” to secure the area and support emergency response efforts following the attack, which occurred while the patrol was en route to the Pajut area in Jonglei State.
The mission stated that the attack “may amount to war crimes.” The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho, remarked that the “deadly violence” targeting UNMISS personnel, who are working to support peace in South Sudan, is “unacceptable.” She extended condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery to the injured, while the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack.
The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, stated on Monday that the soldiers who were killed were of Ethiopian nationality.
