A United Nations staff member was found dead in South Sudan days after being taken into custody by security forces, UN officials said.
Army Lt. Lino Mariak Chol and two soldiers were arrested after admitting to the killing and revealing the body’s location, police spokesman Saninto Udol said.
The body of Bol Roch Mayol, a UN language assistant, was discovered Thursday in a residential area of the northern town of Wau.
Mayol was seized Monday by five South Sudanese soldiers after his UN vehicle stopped on the roadside during a patrol to a displacement camp.
“We are devastated by the loss of our colleague,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, head of the UN mission in South Sudan, in a statement.
Mayol had worked with UNMISS since its inception in 2011, assisting with communications and language support across volatile regions of the country.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances of his death, while UNMISS said there is no evidence suggesting the killing was ordered or orchestrated.
The UN mission contacted army commanders immediately after Mayol’s disappearance and toured military detention facilities in Wau to trace his whereabouts.
Gbeho described the killing as “unacceptable” and demanded a swift, thorough investigation to ensure those responsible face justice.
South Sudan remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for aid workers, with attacks and abductions rising sharply in 2025.
In the first half of this year, 25 aid workers or contractors were killed or injured, compared with 15 during the same period in 2024.
The United States recently warned it might reduce foreign aid, citing excessive fees imposed on aid groups and obstructed operations by the government.
UNMISS is also scaling down after a 15% budget cut, amid renewed fighting that killed more than 1,000 civilians, including through indiscriminate bombings.
