South Sudan: Kidnappings of aid workers double amid escalating violence

The number of aid workers kidnapped in South Sudan has more than doubled in 2025, raising fears that abductions for ransom are becoming a new tactic in the conflict-torn nation.

Over 30 aid workers have been abducted so far this year, compared with fewer than half that figure in 2024, according to humanitarian officials.

Some hostages have been released after ransom payments, but one South Sudanese aid worker, James Unguba, died in captivity earlier this month, after being seized by men in military fatigues.

The surge in kidnappings has disrupted critical humanitarian operations in one of the world’s most fragile regions. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) suspended activities in two counties after armed men abducted staff members, while aid agencies warn that life-saving services for hundreds of thousands of people in remote areas are increasingly at risk. “It is frankly a worrisome new trend that could make humanitarian work impossible,” said Ferenc Marko, an expert on South Sudan.

Analysts say the abductions reflect the desperation of armed groups seeking quick profit as fighting between government forces and opposition factions intensifies, fueling speculation over President Salva Kiir’s succession. While no single group has claimed responsibility, civil society leaders caution that the unchecked rise in kidnappings could further destabilize South Sudan and deepen its humanitarian crisis.