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17 killed in attack on WFP-linked humanitarian convoy in South Sudan's Duk County

Armed men ambushed a John Dau Foundation convoy returning from a WFP and Action Against Hunger training at around 2 p.m. on the Payuel-Pajut road, in one of the deadliest single attacks on aid workers in South Sudan this year

Conflicts· active How Life Changes·What Broke ·3 takes · ·rbtfl upd Jun 30, 2026

Summary

Armed attackers ambushed two vehicles belonging to the John Dau Foundation on the Payuel-Pajut road in Duk County, Jonglei State, at around 2 p.m. local time on June 29, killing 17 people and wounding nine. The convoy was returning from a joint training session organised by the World Food Programme and Action Against Hunger. The Duk County Commissioner attributed the attack to gunmen from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, where Murle communities are concentrated, though Radio Tamazuj could not independently confirm who was responsible. The foundation said it was the deadliest attack in its 20-year history of operating in South Sudan.

Why it matters

South Sudan consistently ranks among the world's most dangerous operating environments for humanitarian workers. The Duk-Pibor corridor has seen recurring inter-communal violence, but attacks on WFP-affiliated convoys of this scale directly threaten the supply routes feeding one of the world's worst food insecurity crises. If aid organisations suspend operations in Jonglei State in response, the impact on civilian populations will extend far beyond the attack itself.

What to watch

  • Whether the John Dau Foundation suspends operations in Duk County pending a security review.
  • South Sudan government and UNMISS response and any investigation into the perpetrators.
  • WFP and Action Against Hunger's decision on future training convoys through the Duk-Pibor corridor.