According to a statement issued by Charles Data Bullen, the Commissioner of Morobo County, the attack occurred between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., approximately six miles outside Yei town.
The MSF vehicle, the commissioner said, was returning after transporting referred patients when it came under assault. During the incident, Pita Rejoice, a midwife attached to the Morobo Primary Health Care Centre, was taken by unknown assailants. Her whereabouts remain unknown.
“This act is not only a direct assault on humanitarian work and healthcare delivery in our region, but it also endangers the lives of patients and health workers who are working tirelessly to save lives under difficult conditions,” Bullen said.
The commissioner condemned the abduction and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the health worker.
Mr. Bullen also appealed to national security forces, peace monitoring bodies such as CTSAMVM, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other relevant agencies to conduct a swift investigation and secure her safe return.
He reiterated the local government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of aid workers within the restive county.
“The County Government of Morobo remains committed to supporting all humanitarian efforts and ensuring the safety of those who serve our communities,” Commissioner Bullen said, expressing solidarity with MSF and the family of the abducted health worker.
The attack on the MSF vehicle adds to a string of security incidents reported in Morobo and the greater Yei River area in recent months. Armed ambushes, roadblocks, and occasional clashes between armed groups have raised alarm among residents, humanitarian agencies, and local leaders.
On June 20, 2025, Morobo County Hospital, a facility supported by MSF, was raided by suspected members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO). The assailants stole medical supplies, looted staff belongings, and set two ambulances ablaze, severely disrupting healthcare services in the region.
No injuries were reported in that incident, but MSF condemned the attack, noting that such acts “severely undermine the already fragile provision of critical healthcare services” in an area where access to medical care is limited.
The June attack followed a pattern of violence against the medical charity in Central Equatoria. In May 2025, MSF was forced to reduce its outreach services in Yei River County due to escalating insecurity, a decision that disrupted healthcare access for vulnerable communities.
Humanitarian organisations have long cited Central Equatoria, particularly the border counties of Morobo, Lainya, and Yei, as high-risk zones for aid delivery due to sporadic violence and a fractured security landscape. The attack on MSF, a critical provider of medical services in the region, mirrors the vulnerability of aid workers operating in conflict-affected communities within South Sudan in general and Central Equatoria State in particular.
