Shock Waves Through Wau and UNMISS
News of language assistant Bol Rhoch Mayol Koul’s death on 15 December 2025 spread quickly through Wau, jolting colleagues at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the wider humanitarian community.
Government Denounces the Crime
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the killing as a heinous crime and, speaking for the Transitional Government, offered condolences to the family and to UNMISS while pledging that South Sudanese law would be applied without hesitation.
Officials commended Division Five of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces for arresting a suspect, signalling what spokespeople called ‘decisive steps toward justice’.
Diplomatic Community Demands Follow-Through
Embassies of Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States issued a rare joint statement condemning the attack and urging authorities to see the investigation through.
They welcomed Juba’s public commitment to accountability and stressed that protecting UN and other international personnel remains central to South Sudan’s peace agenda.
Awaiting Concrete Accountability
The Foreign Ministry says legal proceedings will proceed ‘in accordance with the law,’ yet civil society groups quietly watch for milestones such as formal charges, court appearances, and eventual sentencing.
UNMISS officials, while mourning a valued colleague, underline that swift justice could reinforce cooperation between peacekeepers and communities still emerging from conflict.