Full Breakdown
MSF Accuses All South Sudan Parties of Exploiting Aid Amid Escalating Conflict
5/19/2026, 9:53:35 PM
Conflict Overview and Humanitarian Access
MSF says the South Sudanese government has imposed “a concerning trend of access blockages, recurring coercive letters and evacuation orders,” and that all parties are “instrumentalising aid for military and political objectives,” forcing NGOs to relocate assistance and depriving communities of life-saving services.
Background and Recent Violence
The 2018 peace accord ended a civil war between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, killing nearly 400,000. Machar’s 2025 arrest reignited clashes between government and the SPLA-IO. Hospital bombings in May 2025 and February 2026—an aerial strike MSF says only the government could execute—hit Jonglei. In 2026, MSF treated over 1,800 patients for gunshot wounds, blasts, sexual assault and other injuries, 30 % of its annual caseload.
Humanitarian Impact
The two hospital bombings have left an estimated 762,000 people without healthcare, and the surge in violence has forced tens of thousands to flee opposition-controlled areas, deepening the humanitarian crisis.
Official Statements & Responses
The government and army declined comment; Reuters could not reach an SPLA-IO spokesperson. UN human-rights chief Volker Turk warned in 2026 that South Sudan was at “a dangerous point.”
Criticism & Opposition
MSF condemns both the government’s restrictions and the opposition’s use of humanitarian corridors for military advantage, saying coercive relocation orders and attacks on medical facilities worsen civilian vulnerability and undermine neutral aid delivery.
Verbatim Quotes
- “a concerning trend of access blockages, recurring coercive letters andevacuation ordersby the Government of South Sudan directed at civilians and humanitarian organisations in contested and SPLA-IO controlled locations.” — MSF spokesperson
- “At the same time, aid is being instrumentalised for military and political objectives by all parties to the conflict. Attempts to force NGOs to relocate aid to and from certain areas are depriving entire communities of life-saving assistance,” — MSF spokesperson
- “a dangerous point” — Volker Turk, UN Human Rights Chief
- “He and 20 others have been puton trialon charges including treason linked to militia raids in the northeast.” — Reuters report
What’s Next
A detainee and 20 co-accused face treason charges over militia raids in the northeast; all deny the allegations. The trial’s outcome could affect security conditions and the feasibility of humanitarian operations, and MSF’s report is expected to prompt scrutiny of aid exploitation in South Sudan.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The identity of “He” in the treason trial is not disclosed; no official response from the government or SPLA-IO has been recorded; and the attribution of aerial bombing capability solely to government forces rests on MSF’s assessment without independent verification.
