On February 4, 2026, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced an indefinite suspension of its operations in Baliet County, located in the Upper Nile State of South Sudan, following a series of violent attacks on its aid convoys.
Between January 30 and February 1, 2026, a 12-boat river convoy carrying more than 1,500 metric tons of life-saving food and non-food items was repeatedly targeted by armed youth.
Despite receiving security guarantees from local authorities, the cargo was looted overnight in several locations within Baliet without any intervention from security forces.
The agency has stated it will not resume activities in the country until the safety of its staff and contractors can be assured and the government of South Sudan recovers the stolen commodities.
WFP expressed deep concern that continued insecurity in Jonglei State has already forced a pause in plans to pre-position 12,000 metric tons of food ahead of the upcoming rainy season.
In neighbouring Sudan, the humanitarian situation remains dire following similar attacks earlier in the conflict. In August 2025, a drone strike hit a UN aid convoy delivering food to the famine-threatened city of El Fasher. More recently, the Human Rights Watch 2026 World
Report noted that WFP was forced to temporarily pause distributions to the Zamzam camp in North Darfur due to escalating violence between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
By Anthony Solly
