Aid workers hide in bush after vehicle seized by Ayod county officials

JUBA — Aid workers in South Sudan’s Jonglei State fled into the bush in the early hours of Wednesday and remain in hiding after local security forces seized their vehicle during a chaotic night-time security alert, the workers told Sudans Post.

The incident in Ayod County began around 01:00 local time when County Commissioner James Chuol Jiek entered the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) compound. He reportedly warned staff that fighters from the main armed opposition had surrounded the town and an attack was imminent.

According to two CRS workers who spoke by phone from their hiding places, the commissioner gave them the option to stay – at their own peril – or evacuate.

“At that time, we were told the town was about to be attacked,” one staff member said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fear of retribution. “We were given a choice, but it felt like a warning that staying would be very dangerous.”

Fearing a dawn assault—a common tactic in the country’s conflicts—the staff decided to evacuate at around 03:00. However, as they attempted to leave the town, they were intercepted by security forces linked to the commissioner.

“We told them we were moving to another compound south of the town for safety,” a second staff member said. “Instead, they took our vehicle and surrounded the compound. We were left with nothing.”

Forced to abandon their transport, the workers fled on foot, dispersing into the bush southwest of the town where they remain concealed.

“There was no attack at that time, but after what happened, we could not stay in the open,” the worker said. “We are speaking to you now from hiding.”

CRS has not yet issued an official statement, and attempts to contact local authorities in Ayod were unsuccessful.

‘Abuse of Authority’

The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from civil society. Ter Manyang Gatwech, executive director of the Juba-based Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), described the commissioner’s actions as dangerous obstruction.

“This was not a security briefing; it was an abuse of authority,” Gatwech said in a statement, accusing officials of using intimidation to commandeer humanitarian assets.

The seizure of the vehicle comes just weeks after the United States suspended humanitarian assistance to Ayod County, citing persistent government interference in aid operations.

Although the commissioner later apologized, aid groups warn that continued harassment threatens to cut off support to vulnerable communities.

Tensions in the region are already high. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) recently captured a key position in nearby Duk County.

In Ayod County itself, opposition forces currently hold Wau, which is an important village located about 15 kilometres (9 miles) north of the town.