South Sudan Soldier Jailed for Abducting and Killing UN Employee

 

By Atlantic Reports

A military court in South Sudan has sentenced a soldier to ten years’ imprisonment for abducting and murdering a United Nations employee, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has announced.

In a statement on Saturday, the mission said a General Court Martial sitting in Wau, Western Bahr el-Ghazal, convicted the soldier over the killing of a national staff member.

According to UNMISS, the employee was abducted and killed while performing official duties on 15 December 2025.

The court also ordered the soldier’s reduction in rank and dismissal from the military, and awarded compensation of 51 cattle to the victim’s family.

The judgment provides for a right of appeal. The statement did not indicate whether an appeal had been filed.

Mission Welcomes Accountability Ruling

UNMISS head Anita Kiki Gbeho welcomed the judgment as a step towards accountability for crimes against UN personnel.

“This judgment is a milestone in efforts to ensure accountability for crimes against United Nations personnel in South Sudan,” she said.

Gbeho commended the victim’s family, witnesses and national authorities for their contributions to the judicial process.

The statement did not identify the convicted soldier or the victim, or provide further details about the circumstances of the abduction and killing.

Court Delivers Judgments in Eight Cases

UNMISS said the military court considered ten cases and delivered judgments in eight, resulting in four convictions and four acquittals. Other cases remained under investigation.

The mission reaffirmed its commitment to supporting accountability and protecting personnel engaged in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.

The sentence establishes a judicial outcome in the employee’s killing, while the right of appeal remains available. The statement did not say whether the compensation awarded to the family had been delivered.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.