The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) condemns in the strongest possible terms the fatal shooting this evening around 18:00 hours local time of an internally displaced person (IDP) inside the Mission’s protection-of-civilians site at its compound outside Malakal.

The Mission has received information that three members of forces belonging to either the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition or the allied militia led by Gen. Johnson Olony who are currently controlling the Upper Nile state capital opened fire on IDPs at a recently opened protection-of-civilians site in the UNMISS compound today. One civilian was killed and another six IDPs were wounded. The wounded are currently receiving treatment at the hospital inside the UNMISS compound, and one is said to be in a critical condition.

The exact circumstances surrounding the shooting incident remain unclear. But any attack on a protection-of-civilians site constitutes a direct assault against the United Nations and may constitute a war crime. This is not the first time that an UNMISS protection-of-civilians site has come under attack by armed elements in South Sudan, and such indefensible actions will compromise the Mission’s ability to implement its mandate if they continue to go unpunished.

UNMISS peacekeepers returned fire against the assailants, and UNMISS peacekeepers are currently engaging with senior commanders of armed opposition forces in a bid to identify the perpetrators of this unprovoked attack among their own ranks.

UNMISS takes this opportunity to demand that the warring parties in the current conflict honor their obligation to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel in South Sudan as well as civilians seeking shelter within the UN sites and respect the inviolability of UN property and assets in the country.

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