South Sudan: Suspected gunmen killed local aid worker in Upper Nile State Jan. 30

Event

Unknown assailants killed a local humanitarian aid worker and injured another Jan. 30 in Upper Nile State, South Sudan. The victims were staff members of Joint Aid Management. The assailants attacked the aid workers while they were returning from humanitarian operations near the city of Bentiu. The motive for the attack is unclear.

Context

South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous countries for aid workers despite the UN and other aid organizations' calls for unimpeded humanitarian access in the country. The incident follows the killing of two aid workers in November in Jonglei State. South Sudan recorded eight incidents and nine aid workers killed in 2020; armed groups have killed at least 122 humanitarian personnel since 2013. Most of the victims are South Sudanese nationals.