India, UN condemn killing of 2 Ethiopian peacekeepers in South Sudan
Synopsis
Two Ethiopian UN peacekeepers were killed in an ambush in South Sudan's Jonglei state — and India, the single largest troop contributor to UNMISS with 1,775 personnel deployed, has demanded immediate accountability under Resolution 2589, the very peacekeeper-protection resolution it championed at the Security Council in 2021. With the SPLA-IO escalating conflict since December, the attack underscores how fragile South Sudan's peace remains.
Key Takeaways
Two Ethiopian peacekeepers with UNMISS were killed in an ambush in Jonglei state, South Sudan on 25 August .
Three peacekeepers , two South Sudan police officers , and two civilian UNMISS staff were injured in the attack.
India's UN mission condemned the attack and invoked UN Security Council Resolution 2589 , which India itself championed in August 2021 .
India is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping globally, with 1,775 personnel deployed in UNMISS as of May 2025 , and has lost 161 peacekeepers in total UN operations.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack 'in the strongest possible terms,' warning it may constitute a war crime .
The US embassy in Juba attributed the attack to 'armed youth'; the UN has not formally identified perpetrators pending investigation.
India and UN Secretary-General António Guterres have condemned the killing of two Ethiopian peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), demanding immediate accountability after an ambush in Jonglei state on Monday, 25 August. The attack also left three peacekeepers, two South Sudan police officers, and two civilian UNMISS staff injured.
What Happened in Jonglei
The Ethiopian Blue Helmets were killed when their patrol was ambushed in Jonglei state, according to Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Guterres. UNMISS confirmed it 'deployed a Quick Reaction Force to secure the area and support the emergency response.' The US embassy in Juba attributed the attack to 'armed youth,' though the UN has not formally identified the attackers pending an ongoing investigation.
India's Strong Condemnation
India's UN mission issued a post on X paying tribute to the 'fallen Ethiopian Blue Helmets' and condemning the attack 'carried out on UN peacekeepers deployed with UNMISS.' New Delhi reiterated 'the fundamental importance of respecting the sanctity and inviolability of UN premises and personnel.' India further urged 'full adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 2589 on Accountability for Crimes against Peacekeepers' and called for a thorough investigation to bring perpetrators to justice.
Why India Has a Particular Stake
India is the largest troop-contributing country to UN peacekeeping operations globally and has recorded the deaths of 161 of its peacekeepers, including 17 in UNMISS alone. As of May 2025, 1,775 Indian peacekeepers constituted the single largest national contingent deployed with UNMISS. India proposed Resolution 2589 — the 'Protecting the Protectors' initiative — while serving as Security Council president in August 2021; it was unanimously adopted with over 80 co-sponsors.
The Broader Conflict Context
The ambush comes amid escalating violence in Jonglei state, where the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) has intensified fighting against the country's military since last December. The SPLA-IO is aligned with Riek Machar, a former vice president who is currently imprisoned and facing treason charges. This backdrop of renewed armed conflict has made the operating environment for UNMISS personnel increasingly dangerous.
UN's Warning on War Crimes
Guterres condemned the attack 'in the strongest possible terms,' with Dujarric adding that 'attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes.' Anita Kiki Gbeho, the special representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNMISS, called the violence 'unacceptable,' stating that 'such deadly violence targeting UNMISS personnel who are serving to support peace in South Sudan' cannot be tolerated. The UN has demanded prompt investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
With investigations ongoing and armed conflict persisting in Jonglei, pressure on South Sudan's government to ensure peacekeeper safety — and accountability for this attack — is set to intensify at the UN Security Council.
Point of View
775 personnel in the field, New Delhi has skin in this game that is operational, not merely diplomatic. The invocation of Resolution 2589 is deliberate: India authored that resolution precisely to create a legal accountability framework, and citing it now is a signal that it expects the mechanism to be used. What mainstream coverage underplays is the SPLA-IO angle — the resumption of Riek Machar-aligned fighting since December has systematically degraded the security environment for UNMISS, and this ambush may be less an isolated incident than a pattern. The real test for the Security Council is whether 'war crimes' language from the Secretary-General translates into referrals or sanctions, or remains rhetorical.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the peacekeepers killed in South Sudan on 25 August?
Two Ethiopian peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were killed when their patrol was ambushed in Jonglei state on 25 August. Three other peacekeepers, two South Sudan police officers, and two civilian UNMISS staff were also injured in the attack.
Why did India condemn the attack on UNMISS peacekeepers?
India condemned the attack because it is the largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping operations globally, with 1,775 personnel deployed in UNMISS alone. India also invoked UN Security Council Resolution 2589 on accountability for crimes against peacekeepers — a resolution India itself proposed and championed in August 2021.
What is UN Security Council Resolution 2589?
Resolution 2589, adopted unanimously in August 2021, establishes an accountability framework for crimes committed against UN peacekeepers. India proposed the resolution while serving as Security Council president, with over 80 co-sponsors, as part of its 'Protecting the Protectors' initiative.
Who is suspected of carrying out the ambush in Jonglei?
The US embassy in Juba attributed the attack to 'armed youth,' but the UN has not formally identified the attackers as investigations are ongoing. The SPLA-IO, aligned with former vice president Riek Machar, has escalated fighting in Jonglei state since December.
Could the attack on UN peacekeepers be considered a war crime?
UN Secretary-General António Guterres' spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that 'attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes.' The Secretary-General condemned the ambush 'in the strongest possible terms' and demanded prompt investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
