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South Sudan: Second abduction in four days and MSF suspends all activities in Yei and Morobo counties
MSF has suspended all operational activities in Yei River and Morobo counties in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State for a minimum of six weeks following the abduction of an MSF staff member, occurring just four days after the abduction of health ministry staff from an MSF ambulance on the same road and location. Fortunately, our colleague was released some hours later.
The incident occurred during an evacuation of MSF staff from Morobo to Yei amid deteriorating security conditions. The four-vehicle convoy was stopped by armed gunmen. They ordered the MSF staff member, who was serving as the team leader of the convoy, out of the vehicle and pulled him into the thickets, while allowing the other vehicles and staff to proceed to Yei.
This abduction is part of a disturbing trend of targeted violence on healthcare and aid workers in these counties. In just three months, several incidents of violence targeting aid workers and healthcare facilities have been reported in Morobo, including forceful abductions, arson, violent looting of hospitals, and damage to medical infrastructure. Seven of these incidents involved the abduction of aid workers.
The residents of Yei River and Morobo counties live in remote and hard-to-reach areas, frequently cut off from essential services due to limited infrastructure and armed conflict. As a result, they heavily rely on humanitarian organisations like MSF for essential services.
This marks the second time MSF has been compelled to reduce provision of medical services in the area in under three months. In May, we were forced to reduce activities due to escalating insecurity in the area. MSF has also suspended all activities in camps for internally displaced persons due to the relentless violence in Morobo County. Today, MSF had to take the difficult decision to suspend all activities in both counties, until further notice, adding to the growing number of projects and health facilities MSF has had to close this year as a result of attacks.
In Yei River and Morobo counties, MSF provides primary healthcare services by supporting four Ministry of Health facilities, offering outpatient consultations, routine vaccinations, and maternal and child healthcare. MSF also conducts mobile clinics and supports community-based healthcare through the Boma Health Initiative program in the area. Between January and June 2025, MSF conducted 14,500 outpatient consultations, 1,192 antenatal consultations, and assisted in 438 maternal deliveries in this area.