UN peacekeepers killed in South Sudan ambush as fears grow over full-blown civil war

Two United Nations peacekeepers have been killed following an ambush by unidentified gunmen in a remote region of South Sudan, the UN mission in the country has confirmed.

Seven other individuals sustained injuries during Monday's attack, including three peacekeepers, two members of the South Sudanese police, and two civilian staff attached to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The patrol was travelling towards Pajut, located in Jonglei state, when it was fired upon. UNMISS stated that a "Quick Reaction Force" was subsequently dispatched to secure the surrounding area and assist with emergency measures.

Anita Kiki Gbeho, the head of UNMISS, condemned the assault in a statement, saying: "Such deadly violence targeting UNMISS personnel who are serving to support peace in South Sudan is unacceptable,"

Official details regarding the names and nationalities of the two killed peacekeepers have not yet been made public.

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While targeted assaults on peacekeepers remain uncommon, South Sudan continues to be plagued by widespread instability. Government forces are locked in conflict with fighters aligned with opposition leader Riek Machar, who was suspended as vice president last year after facing treason and other charges he maintains are politically driven.

A key 2018 peace accord signed by President Salva Kiir and Machar, who is currently held under house arrest, has effectively unravelled, prompting growing fears over a potential return to full-blown civil war.

According to statistics compiled by the UN, more than 450 acts of violence aimed at aid workers and humanitarian assets were recorded between January and July—representing more than twice the amount logged during the equivalent period last year.

Fighting escalated in December when opposition groups captured government positions across Jonglei. In response, government troops launched a counteroffensive in January featuring ground strikes and aerial bombardments, despite an official commitment to the peace pact.

The United States has pressed for renewed negotiations between Kiir and Machar, calling earlier this year for "urgent action to uphold peace and mitigate the risk of civil war through an immediate return to dialogue among the parties to the 2018 peace agreement."