Violence Against Aid Workers and Sexual Assault Infrastructure Highlight Regional Security Challenges
A Kenyan WFP worker was killed in an armed attack on a UN compound in South Sudan, while Nigerian authorities opened a new sexual assault referral centre, underscoring persistent security and health challenges across the continent.
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A Kenyan aid worker employed by the World Food Programme was shot dead Tuesday when an armed assailant breached a UN compound in South Sudan, according to The East African. The attack represents the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting humanitarian personnel operating in conflict-affected areas across the continent.
The WFP staff member, who was involved in airdrop operations delivering food assistance to hard-to-reach populations, was killed when the gunman entered the compound and opened fire. The incident occurred amid deteriorating security conditions in South Sudan, where humanitarian workers face elevated risks from armed groups, intercommunal violence, and targeted attacks on aid infrastructure.
According to the Aid Worker Security Database, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 38 percent of major attacks on aid workers globally in 2025, with South Sudan ranking among the most dangerous operational environments. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported 122 access incidents affecting humanitarian operations in South Sudan during the fourth quarter of 2025, including ambushes, compound intrusions, and deliberate targeting of personnel.
The attack comes as humanitarian agencies struggle to maintain operations across multiple African crisis zones, including Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Sahel region. WFP operations in South Sudan currently reach approximately 6.8 million people facing acute food insecurity, with airdrop missions serving populations in areas cut off by flooding, conflict, or lack of road infrastructure.
In a separate development addressing gender-based violence, Abia State Governor Alex Otti inaugurated a sexual assault referral centre in Aba, Nigeria, on Tuesday. The facility, established with European Union support, is designed to provide comprehensive medical, psychological, and legal services to survivors of sexual violence.
"Mr Otti appreciated the European Union for supporting the initiative," according to Peoples Gazette Nigeria. The centre represents part of broader efforts to strengthen health system responses to gender-based violence, which remains significantly underreported and poorly addressed across much of the continent.
The World Health Organization estimates that one in three women in Africa experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime, with conflict and displacement substantially increasing vulnerability. However, access to specialized medical care for sexual assault survivors remains severely limited, with most African countries having fewer than one referral centre per million population.
Sexual assault referral centres provide critical time-sensitive interventions including post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, emergency contraception, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and forensic evidence collection. The WHO recommends such facilities operate within integrated health systems, offering 24-hour access to trained personnel and establishing clear referral pathways to legal and psychosocial support services.
Nigeria's National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons reported 11,009 cases of sexual and gender-based violence in 2025, though experts believe actual prevalence far exceeds documented cases due to stigma, fear of retaliation, and limited reporting mechanisms. The Aba facility joins approximately 30 other sexual assault referral centres operating across Nigeria's 36 states, leaving substantial gaps in geographic coverage.
The EU has committed €45 million to gender-based violence prevention and response programs across West Africa through 2027, supporting health infrastructure development, training for medical and law enforcement personnel, and community awareness campaigns. The Abia centre includes examination rooms, counselling facilities, and accommodation for survivors requiring temporary shelter.
Both incidents underscore persistent challenges facing health and humanitarian operations across conflict-affected and resource-constrained settings. Security analysts note that attacks on aid workers not only cause immediate casualties but create broader access constraints, forcing agencies to suspend operations and leaving vulnerable populations without essential services. Meanwhile, the expansion of specialized health facilities for sexual violence survivors represents gradual progress in addressing a long-neglected public health crisis, though significant resource and coverage gaps remain.
The UN Security Council is expected to address the deteriorating security environment for humanitarian workers during upcoming consultations on protection of civilians, while African health ministers have prioritized gender-based violence response capacity in the Africa CDC's 2026-2030 strategic framework.