Authorities in Eastern Equatoria State are investigating the killing of a healthcare worker who was ambushed along the Torit-Oronyo road, officials said.
Mark Nabeyo, the State Field Coordinator for the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, was killed on June 3 while travelling from Torit to Oronyo in the Imehejek Administrative Area of Eastern Equatoria State.
Officials said Nabeyo had spent more than a year supporting efforts to eradicate Guinea worm transmission in the Greater Kapoeta region. He was travelling on foot when he was ambushed and was later found by local residents with gunshot wounds.
Eastern Equatoria State police spokesperson Justine Kleopus Takuru told Radio Tamazuj that investigations were ongoing.
“Mr. Nabeyo, a 40-year-old from the Toposa community, was attacked while walking from Torit to Oronyo. He was later found by local residents after collapsing from his injuries. His belongings were disturbed at the scene and his phone was missing,” Takuru said, adding that the body had been taken for a post-mortem examination.
Human rights defender Juma Tikol of the Eastern Equatoria Civil Society Network called for a transparent investigation in an open letter to Governor Louis Lobong Lojore, describing the victim as a dedicated humanitarian worker and urging accountability.
“The family and communities deserve answers and justice,” he said.
Eastern Equatoria youth leader Oriaja James Libirato also condemned the killing, expressing condolences to Nabeyo’s family and calling on authorities and local communities to help identify those responsible.
The National Ministry of Health on Friday condemned the killing and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
In a statement, the ministry said Nabeyo was killed on June 3 while travelling along the Torit-Oronyo road.
The ministry expressed shock over the killing and urged local authorities to apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators.
“Violence against medical personnel is entirely unacceptable,” the ministry said.
The ministry added that it was coordinating with local, state and security authorities to restore safety and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential health services in the area.
It also conveyed its condolences to Nabeyo’s family.
Aid workers in South Sudan face persistent security risks, including ambushes and armed robberies, particularly on rural roads, with insecurity continuing to hinder humanitarian access across parts of the country.
Notice of Correction: An earlier version of this story identified Mark Nabeyo as a staff member of the Carter Center. This is inaccurate. Nabeyo was the State Field Coordinator for the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme.
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