JUBA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has condemned an ambush on its peacekeepers in Western Equatoria State by a local armed group, which resulted in the seizure of weapons.
In a statement issued Thursday evening in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, UNMISS said the attack occurred on Wednesday as its military personnel were conducting a patrol between Tambura and Mapuse.
"The Mission reiterates that its peacekeepers are deployed to protect civilians at a time when access and security remain fragile across Western Equatoria, particularly in and around Tambura. They must not be targeted by armed groups," the statement said.
According to UNMISS, the assailants attacked its peacekeepers and seized a small cache of weapons and ammunition before retreating. The mission stressed that any attack against UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime.
South Sudan continues to grapple with clashes and political tensions, with intercommunal violence and armed group activity threatening peace and stability nationwide. Despite a 2018 peace deal, progress has been slow, with political rivalries and ethnic divisions fueling renewed hostilities and worsening the humanitarian crisis, the UN said. ■
