JUBA — Several Western embassies in South Sudan on Wednesday condemned an order by a senior SPLA-IO commander demanding that humanitarian organizations in northern Jonglei State surrender their vehicles, warning that the move violates international humanitarian principles and endangers aid workers.
The embassies of Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States said the directive was issued by SPLM/A-IO Major General John Luk Bayak.
According to the statement, the order requires humanitarian organizations operating in the area to hand over their vehicles, a move the diplomats described as unlawful and dangerous.
“This order is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian principles and places assistance workers in harm’s way,” the embassies said, calling for its immediate reversal and the return of any assets already seized.
The diplomats stressed that no individual or authority in South Sudan has the right to confiscate assets provided by donor governments to humanitarian partners, noting that such actions undermine efforts to deliver life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities.
South Sudan has experienced an uptick in violence since February last year, with renewed clashes, intercommunal fighting and insecurity spreading across several states, including Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity. The deteriorating security situation has severely affected humanitarian access, forcing aid agencies to suspend operations in some areas.
The country is widely regarded as the most dangerous place in the world to be a humanitarian worker, according to Aid Worker Security Database.
The risk to aid workers is characterized by repeated attacks, looting of aid supplies, threats, and killings of aid personnel. According to humanitarian organizations and international monitors, dozens of aid workers have been killed in recent years, and incidents targeting humanitarian staff continue to rise.
Aid agencies rely heavily on vehicles to reach remote and conflict-affected communities in South Sudan, where poor infrastructure and seasonal flooding already complicate access.
The diplomats warned that confiscating vehicles would further limit assistance to millions of South Sudanese who depend on humanitarian aid for food, healthcare and protection.
The embassies reaffirmed their support for humanitarian organizations operating in South Sudan and urged all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and allow safe, unhindered access for aid workers.