Juba, South Sudan – International medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders – MSF) announced the suspension of its operations in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State on Tuesday, following the abduction of a staff member during an evacuation mission.
In a statement, MSF said all activities in Yei River and Morobo counties will be halted for a minimum of six weeks, citing heightened security risks and ongoing threats to humanitarian personnel.
The incident marks the second abduction involving MSF staff in the region in less than a week. According to the organisation, the latest abduction took place as its team was relocating from Morobo to Yei due to deteriorating security conditions. Armed individuals reportedly intercepted a convoy of four MSF vehicles, forcibly removed the team leader from one of the cars, and led him into the bush. The remaining staff and vehicles were allowed to proceed.
“This was a targeted attack, and it is absolutely unacceptable,” said Dr Ferdinand Atie, MSF Head of Mission in South Sudan. “We are deeply committed to delivering lifesaving care to vulnerable populations, but we cannot do so while our teams are at risk. The safety of our staff must come first.”
Just four days prior, another health worker affiliated with MSF—employed by the Ministry of Health—was abducted from an MSF ambulance in the same area. He was released several hours later.
The organisation condemned what it described as a “pattern of violence” against aid workers in the area. MSF reported that over the past three months, Morobo County alone has witnessed the abduction of seven humanitarian workers, violent looting of hospitals, intentional fires, and the destruction of medical infrastructure.
Communities in Morobo and Yei River counties rely heavily on humanitarian assistance, particularly due to limited access to public services, poor infrastructure, and ongoing armed conflict. MSF has long been a key provider of healthcare in these hard-to-reach regions.
This is the second time in three months that MSF has been forced to suspend its operations in Central Equatoria. In May, the organisation temporarily closed its services in Morobo’s internally displaced persons (IDP) camps due to escalating violence.
Between January and June 2025, MSF teams in Morobo and Yei River provided more than 14,000 outpatient consultations, nearly 1,200 antenatal care visits, and assisted with over 400 deliveries.
Dr Atie called on all parties to ensure safe and unhindered access to affected populations and to respect the neutrality of humanitarian workers.
“Until we can guarantee the safety of our teams, we cannot resume our operations,” he said.
