Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have won the football championship and finished second in volleyball during sporting events held to mark the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
The competitions took place on May 30, 2026, at the UN Tomping Base in Juba, bringing together military personnel, UN civilian staff, police units, and representatives of host communities in a celebration of unity through sport.
In the football final, Rwanda’s contingent, Rwanbatt-3, faced Giant Killers, a team composed of UN civilian staff. After a tightly contested match that ended goalless in regular time, Rwanbatt-3 triumphed 9–8 in a tense penalty shootout to lift the trophy.
In volleyball, the Rwandan peacekeepers finished runners-up after a 3–0 defeat to Nepal’s peacekeeping team in the final.
Organizers said the tournament was designed to strengthen cooperation, morale, and cohesion among peacekeepers from different troop-contributing countries, while also reinforcing relations with local communities.
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is observed annually to honor the service and sacrifice of peacekeepers worldwide. Rwanda remains among the leading contributors to UN peacekeeping missions across several regions.
