Three UN peacekeepers killed in South Sudan

(Vatican Radio) The deaths of three Indian peacekeepers at a United Nations base in South Sudan were the first UN personnel deaths announced in this week's upsurge of ethnic-based violence in the country. Though civilians who had sought refuge at the base were reportedly the target of the attack.

At a press conference Thursday night, Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson confirmed that the UN base in Akobo, in Jonglei state, was attacked on Thursday but the UN awaits more information.

The UN Security Council is expected meet in New York on Friday to discuss the recent surge in violence.

In an effort to protect U.S. citizens in South Sudan, President Barack Obama deployed a small military contingent.


A letter sent to Congress on Thursday indicated that 45 military personnel were deployed a day earlier. While equipped for combat, their purpose is solely to protect U.S. citizens and U.S. property until the security situation improves.


Obama also appealed for an end to the violence and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, on a trip in the Philippines, urged South Sudanese leaders to commit to peace.

“Political differences need to be resolved by peaceful and democratic means and those have been hard-fought for,” Kerry said. “The government should respect the rule of law and the people of South Sudan should be able to realize their full potential in peace.”


African mediators held talks with President Salva Kiir on Thursday in an effort to broker peace but no progress was seemingly made.

On the fifth day of violence on Thursday, government troops fought to regain control of an important oil-producing area. As many as 500 people have been killed in the fighting to date.

Listen to the report by Laura Ieraci: