In South Sudan, a nation already battered by years of conflict and humanitarian crises, a new and deeply troubling pattern has emerged in 2025: the kidnapping of aid workers has more than doubled compared to the previous year. Over 30 South Sudanese aid workers have been abducted so far this year, a surge that is not only endangering the lives of those who have devoted themselves to helping others but also threatening the fragile lifeline for millions of people in desperate need of assistance.
According to two senior humanitarian officials from international organizations, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, the spike represents a dramatic escalation in risk for those delivering aid in one of the world’s most perilous environments for humanitarian work. The United Nations has long designated South Sudan as one of the most dangerous places for aid workers, but this year’s surge in kidnappings—especially for ransom—has analysts and aid groups sounding the alarm.
“The biggest fear is that this could become a countrywide issue,” warned Daniel Akech, a South Sudan expert with the International Crisis Group, in an interview with the AP. The numbers are stark: more than double the kidnappings of all of 2024, with no signs of the trend abating. Several of those abducted have been released after ransom payments, but the ordeal has not been without tragedy. In early September, aid worker James Unguba, who had been kidnapped the previous month in Tambura, Western Equatoria state, died in captivity. Multiple sources, including prominent civil rights activist Edmund Yakani, confirmed Unguba’s death to the AP. The exact circumstances remain murky, but witnesses reported that Unguba was seized by men dressed in national military uniforms—a detail that underscores just how chaotic and unpredictable the security landscape has become.
The surge in kidnappings comes as fighting between South Sudan’s national army and various opposition factions has flared up with a ferocity not seen since the 2018 peace deal that ended a devastating civil war. That conflict killed an estimated 400,000 people and led to the formation of a fragile unity government. Now, with speculation swirling about President Salva Kiir’s declining health, analysts believe the renewed violence is at least partly fueled by a struggle over his succession. “Some abductions for political reasons, like forced recruitment (of civilians into military conscription), have been done for years, but the abductions for ransom are new,” Ferenc Marko, another expert on South Sudan, told AP. “It is frankly a worrisome new trend that could make humanitarian work impossible" in key states like Central and Western Equatoria.
The impact on humanitarian operations has been swift and severe. In July, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) suspended its work in two South Sudanese counties after one of its staff members was kidnapped at gunpoint while traveling in a clearly marked convoy in Yei, Central Equatoria state. Just four days earlier, another health worker was abducted from an MSF ambulance. “While we are deeply committed to providing care to those in need, we cannot keep our staff working in an unsafe environment,” said Doctor Ferdinand Atte, MSF’s head of mission in South Sudan, in a statement quoted by AP. The suspension of MSF’s work has hampered life-saving services for hundreds of thousands of people in remote areas along South Sudan’s borders with Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.
Who is behind these kidnappings? That remains a question with no easy answers. Aid officials and analysts alike point to a complex web of armed groups, opposition forces, and even government soldiers—each with their own motives. “We don’t know if these abductions are carried out by NAS, by opposition forces, or by government soldiers,” said civil society leader Edmund Yakani, referring to the National Salvation Front, a rebel group that never signed the 2018 peace deal. “From what we know, there is no single group responsible." The region is awash with armed factions seeking quick profit, especially as the country’s economy continues to nosedive and fears mount about a return to all-out war.
Political dynamics are only adding fuel to the fire. In March, Riek Machar, the leader of South Sudan’s largest opposition group and one of the country’s vice presidents, was placed under house arrest after a militia with loose ties to him overran an army base near the Ethiopian border. The national army responded by intensifying operations against Machar’s forces, who have since linked up with other rebel groups, including the National Salvation Front. The resulting instability has created fertile ground for criminal activity, including the targeting of aid workers for ransom.
The consequences of these kidnappings go far beyond the immediate danger to aid workers. With operations suspended and staff living in fear, the delivery of food, medical care, and other essential services has been severely disrupted. For a country already facing what aid agencies describe as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, the stakes could hardly be higher. The threat is not just to individual lives, but to the survival of entire communities.
Making matters worse, the international funding that underpins much of South Sudan’s humanitarian response is now in jeopardy. Earlier this year, the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump moved to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, which had funded more than half of the emergency relief in South Sudan. European donors have also signaled that they are likely to reduce their contributions, according to AP. This double blow—rising insecurity and shrinking resources—could hardly come at a worse time.
The trend in South Sudan mirrors a grim global reality. According to an August 2025 report by Humanitarian Outcomes, 2024 was already the deadliest year on record for aid workers worldwide, with 383 killed and 861 others affected by major violence. The organization warns that 2025 is on track to surpass even those bleak numbers.
Despite the risks, many aid workers and organizations remain committed to their mission. But as the dangers mount, some families of kidnapped workers have reportedly turned to neutral actors, such as churches, to negotiate ransom payments—even as the United Nations and most aid groups maintain a strict no-ransom policy. The choices are agonizing, and the future is uncertain.
For South Sudan, the rise in kidnappings is not just a humanitarian crisis. It’s a test of the country’s ability to protect those who provide hope and help to its most vulnerable citizens. As the violence continues, the world watches—hoping that the tide can be turned before more lives are lost and more aid is cut off.
