In a humiliating twist that has sent shockwaves through Western Equatoria, UN peacekeepers, the very force deployed to protect civilians, were ambushed and disarmed by a local armed group, who walked away with their weapons.
The attack happened Tuesday along the volatile Tambura–Mapuse road. Fighters intercepted a routine UNMISS patrol, forced the blue helmets to hand over their arms, and disappeared into the bush with a cache of weapons and ammunition.
For a moment, the guardians of peace stood unarmed, stripped of the very tools they rely on to enforce their mandate.
Although all personnel returned safely to base, the ambush has left the Mission reeling. Critics are calling it a national embarrassment: how can peacekeepers defend civilians when they themselves are so easily outgunned and humiliated?
“This cowardly act is a blatant violation of international law and may amount to a war crime,” UNMISS fumed in a statement.
But the declaration has done little to mask the symbolism of the moment, peacekeepers robbed of their authority in a region spiraling into chaos.
The incident highlights the fragility of Western Equatoria, where Tambura has long been a flashpoint of violence.
With UN weapons now in the hands of local fighters, fears are mounting that the ambush could embolden armed groups further and erode public confidence in international protection.
UNMISS insists it will not back down, vowing to “continue robust patrols across South Sudan.”
But for many, the damage is done. What was meant to be a routine show of strength has instead become a stunning display of weakness — the protectors turned into the prey.
