United Nations peacekeepers were disarmed by members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) during a patrol in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state Wednesday, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said Thursday, Sept.4.
The patrol was ambushed between the towns of Tambura and Mapuse, an area plagued by recurring violence. UNMISS said the assailants seized a small cache of weapons and ammunition before withdrawing. No peacekeepers were injured, and all personnel returned safely to base.
“Peacekeepers are deployed to protect civilians in areas where security remains extremely fragile,” said Priyanka Chowdhury, UNMISS spokesperson. “They must not be targeted by any armed group. Attacks on peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.”
The mission said it will continue “robust patrols” across Western Equatoria and other regions, stressing that any attack against peacekeepers may be considered a war crime.
South Sudan remains volatile seven years after the signing of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, with intercommunal violence and armed groups undermining fragile stability.
