Nurse Abducted in Morobo Released Safely as Health Attacks Rise

(MOROBO) – A South Sudanese nurse working for the Ministry of Health has been freed without injury after being abducted on Friday from a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) ambulance in Morobo County, Central Equatoria.

The incident which occurred at around 10 a.m. last week has drawn condemnation from humanitarian groups and renewed concern about growing threats to health workers in the country.

According to MSF, the armed individuals stopped the ambulance and forcibly removed the nurse, identified by local rights organisation CEPO as Ita Rejoice. She had just escorted a pregnant woman to Yei Hospital for advanced medical care and was returning to Morobo when the vehicle was intercepted. The other passengers were allowed to proceed.

The nurse was released safely on Sunday, 27 July. MSF confirmed her return and called for respect for health workers and humanitarian operations across South Sudan. While the motive behind the abduction remains unclear, it adds to a troubling pattern of insecurity affecting the health sector.

The humanitarian organisation reports that the growing violence has forced the closure of two hospitals and led to a sharp drop in medical services. In May and June 2025, MSF conducted only 3,427 consultations, roughly half the number carried out over the same period in 2024. The insecurity has also disrupted routine outreach activities, especially in rural and border communities.

Since January, MSF has documented several serious incidents, including the looting of clinics, bombings and shootings targeting health facilities. These attacks are affecting humanitarian staff and thousands of patients who rely on the services, particularly in conflict affected areas.

Rights defender Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), condemned the incident, calling it a clear violation of international humanitarian law. He urged the United Nations to investigate the case and press for stronger protection of healthcare workers under the laws of war.

“The targeting of healthcare providers is unacceptable and undermines efforts to support vulnerable communities,” said Yakani, adding that such incidents should not become a normal part of daily life in South Sudan.

Recent MSF Health Consultations (2024 vs 2025)