NEW DELHI: Five Indian UN peacekeepers were killed and four injured by rebels in South Sudan, the external affairs ministry said Tuesday.
"Peacekeepers from India in UNMISS (United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan) attacked in Jonglei. Five dead and four wounded," ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
"India's embassy in touch with UNMISS to arrange for return of remains of five Indian peacekeepers killed by rebels in South Sudan," he said.
He confirmed that the soldiers had been killed while "escorting a UN convoy".
Jonglei has been the scene of widespread ethnic conflict since South Sudan became independent in July 2011. Much of the trouble has been in Pibor county, where the UN peacekeeping force is based.
An Indian soldier was shot and wounded there in March amid high tensions about an imminent government crackdown, and a UN helicopter was downed in December.
UNMISS chief Hilde Johnson had said in March that the government was expected to soon launch an offensive against fighters loyal to local rebel leader David Yau Yau in Jonglei.
India is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping forces around the world and has suffered losses in the past.
In 2010, rebels hacked to death three Indians in their camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Akbaruddin said the Ministry of External Affairs was arranging for the bodies of its peacekeepers in South Sudan to be returned home.
"Peacekeepers from India in UNMISS (United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan) attacked in Jonglei. Five dead and four wounded," ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
"India's embassy in touch with UNMISS to arrange for return of remains of five Indian peacekeepers killed by rebels in South Sudan," he said.
He confirmed that the soldiers had been killed while "escorting a UN convoy".
Jonglei has been the scene of widespread ethnic conflict since South Sudan became independent in July 2011. Much of the trouble has been in Pibor county, where the UN peacekeeping force is based.
An Indian soldier was shot and wounded there in March amid high tensions about an imminent government crackdown, and a UN helicopter was downed in December.
UNMISS chief Hilde Johnson had said in March that the government was expected to soon launch an offensive against fighters loyal to local rebel leader David Yau Yau in Jonglei.
India is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping forces around the world and has suffered losses in the past.
In 2010, rebels hacked to death three Indians in their camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Akbaruddin said the Ministry of External Affairs was arranging for the bodies of its peacekeepers in South Sudan to be returned home.
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