Juba, March 2, 2026
Savanna Radio News Desk
Twenty-six humanitarian workers are missing after fresh clashes erupted in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, raising fears for their safety and highlighting the growing risks facing aid operations in the country. Local authorities and aid officials say the 26 workers went missing following heavy fighting between armed groups in a remote area of Jonglei over the weekend. The workers were reportedly caught in the crossfire while delivering food and medical supplies to conflict-affected communities. Their communication with coordinating offices was lost shortly after gunfire and looting were reported in the area.
Humanitarian agencies are urgently trying to establish contact with the missing staff and verify their whereabouts through community networks and local leaders. Some vehicles and compounds used by aid organizations were reportedly vandalized or looted during the violence, further complicating the search and rescue efforts.
Rising insecurity in Jonglei
Jonglei has long been a hotspot of intercommunal violence, cattle raids, and armed group activity, despite national-level peace agreements. Recent flare-ups have displaced thousands of civilians, forcing many to seek shelter in churches, schools, and swampy areas along the Nile. The disappearance of the aid workers underscores how quickly humanitarian access can collapse when fighting escalates.
Local officials say clashes over land, cattle, and political grievances continue to fuel cycles of revenge attacks between rival groups. They warn that without stronger security guarantees and accountability, civilians and aid workers will remain at high risk.
Humanitarian impact
The suspension of operations in parts of Jonglei is already affecting food distributions, health outreach, and protection services for women and children. Humanitarian agencies had been supporting communities facing severe food insecurity, malnutrition, and flooding-related displacement. With staff missing and roads unsafe, agencies have temporarily halted or scaled back movements in the hardest-hit areas.
Aid workers on the ground say people who fled the fighting are in urgent need of shelter, clean water, and medical care. There are fears that if the missing staff are not located soon, other agencies may further restrict movements, worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation.
Calls for protection and accountability
Savanna Radio has learned that humanitarian organizations are calling on both national and local authorities, as well as community and armed leaders, to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of any detained workers and to guarantee their safety. They are also urging all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and keep aid workers and their assets out of the conflict.
Humanitarian coordination bodies are appealing for secure corridors so that search teams, negotiators, and emergency medical personnel can move safely. They emphasize that repeated attacks on aid workers risk pushing agencies to withdraw from some areas, leaving vulnerable populations without life-saving support.
Appeal from Savanna Radio News Desk
The Savanna Radio News Desk will continue to monitor the situation in Jonglei State and gather updates on the fate of the 26 missing humanitarian workers. Families and colleagues are anxiously awaiting news, hoping that dialogue and pressure from local leaders, government, and international partners will help secure their safe return.
Authorities are being urged to launch a transparent investigation into the clashes, hold those responsible for attacks on aid workers to account, and work with communities to prevent further violence in Jonglei and across South Sudan.
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