Two Ethiopian soldiers serving with a United Nations peacekeeping mission were killed when unidentified gunmen ambushed a patrol in South Sudan’s Jonglei state.
Seven other people were injured in the attack. The wounded included three UN peacekeepers, two South Sudanese police officers and two civilian employees working with the patrol.
A United Nations spokesperson said the team appeared to have been deliberately targeted while conducting a regular security patrol. The organization has called on South Sudanese authorities to conduct an immediate and comprehensive investigation.
No group had claimed responsibility at the time of publication. Jonglei continues to experience intercommunal violence, armed mobilization and clashes involving different security forces.
Why it matters: The attack raises the number of UN peacekeepers killed in hostile acts worldwide during 2026 to nine. International law provides special protection to peacekeeping personnel, and deliberately attacking them may constitute a war crime.
Status: Fatalities confirmed; attackers and motive unidentified
