South Sudan: Aid worker killed in Cueibet County (Lakes state) June 28

Event

An ambulance transporting an injured person to hospital came under fire in Cueibet County (Lakes state) on Sunday, June 28, resulting in the death of the driver, an aid worker for an international NGO providing health services in South Sudan. The incident occurred following a bout of inter-communal violence in the county. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Further attacks are possible in the region over the near term.

Context

South Sudan has been wracked by years of political, interethnic, and intercommunal violence amid the country's long civil war. Five aid workers have been killed in security-related incidents in the country in 2020, bringing the number of humanitarian workers killed since the beginning of the civil war in 2013 to 120.

Advice

Due to the high threat of intercommunal conflict and violent crime, all travel to South Sudan should be subject to a thorough localized threat assessment and undertaken in coordination with a trusted security provider. Members are advised to subject all travel, particularly to remote and rural areas, to strict journey management protocols. Avoid travel at night, vary routines, and maintain a heightened sense of situational awareness. Monitor local media sources to remain apprised of security-related developments and adhere to any directives issued by local authorities.