The abduction occurred during an evacuation mission from Morobo to Yei last week, prompted by a worsening security situation.
In a statement released Tuesday, MSF confirmed that the staff member, who was leading a four-vehicle convoy, was forcibly taken by gunmen after the group was stopped along the route. The other staff and vehicles were allowed to proceed.
This incident came just days after a separate abduction involving Ministry of Health staff who were travelling in an MSF ambulance on the same road. Those abducted were later released, but the recurrence of such attacks has prompted serious concern among aid groups operating in the region.
“This marks a targeted act of violence against humanitarian personnel,” said Dr. Ferdinand Atte, MSF’s Head of Mission in South Sudan. “We cannot continue to provide care under conditions that put our teams at such grave risk.”
According to MSF, the abduction is part of a broader trend of insecurity affecting aid operations in Central Equatoria State.
Over the past three months, at least seven incidents involving the abduction of aid workers have been reported in Morobo County alone, alongside cases of arson, violent looting of health facilities, and destruction of medical equipment.
MSF has demanded that authorities and all armed actors in the region ensure the protection of humanitarian workers and infrastructure. “Before we can resume operations, we need credible guarantees of safety and accountability,” said Dr. Atte.
The suspension of MSF’s services is expected to significantly affect access to healthcare for local communities. Residents in Yei and Morobo rely heavily on humanitarian organisations due to limited health infrastructure and ongoing conflict. MSF had been supporting four Ministry of Health facilities, offering outpatient consultations, vaccinations, maternal health services, and mobile clinics.
Between January and June 2025, MSF reported providing over 14,000 outpatient consultations, more than 1,100 antenatal care visits, and assisting in 438 deliveries in the two counties.
This is the second time in less than three months that MSF has scaled down its operations in the region due to violence. In May, similar security concerns led to the reduction of services, including a complete halt of operations in internally displaced persons’ camps in Morobo.
Nationwide, MSF is reporting a rise in attacks on health workers and facilities. In January, two MSF boats came under fire in Upper Nile State, forcing staff to flee into the river.
In April, armed men looted the MSF hospital in Ulang in broad daylight, halting medical services for over 150,000 residents. On May 3, an airstrike involving gunship helicopters hit MSF’s hospital in Old Fangak, Jonglei State, killing at least seven civilians and injuring 27 others, including four MSF staff.
