Civil society condemns attack on UN peacekeepers in Jonglei

A civil society group has condemned an ambush on UN peacekeepers in Jonglei State that killed two peacekeepers and injured seven others on Monday.

According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, a patrol travelling from Bor to Pajut in Duk County came under attack by unidentified armed individuals.

The UN said two peacekeepers were killed and seven others injured, including three additional peacekeepers, two civilian staff members and two South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) personnel.

In a statement issued this morning, the National Civil Society Coalition strongly condemned the attack on UN peacekeepers and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

The group called on the national government to develop a comprehensive plan to improve the security of travellers, residents and humanitarian agencies at the sub-national level.

“We strongly condemn this tragic attack and conveys our condolences to families of the victims, and wish the injured a quick healing.

“As we condole with the bereaved, we would like to make a strong call on the national government to consider rolling out a comprehensive plan to maximize security of travellers, residence, and humanitarian agencies at the sub-national level,” the statement said.

The civil society coalition also called on authorities to promptly investigate the attack and bring those responsible to justice.

It warned that failure to punish the perpetrators could risk normalising violence against travellers.

“Such grave crimes, if left unaccounted for, will risk normalization of violence. We are also calling on the Government to apprehend the perpetrators for justice’s sake and bring about healing from the trauma of constant violence endured by South Sudanese and Humanitarian workers across the Country,” the statement added.

The condemnation by civil society adds to growing calls for action over the attack, including from the U.S. Embassy in Juba, which called for an urgent investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

The UN mission on Monday warned that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law, including international humanitarian law.