Aid Worker Kidnappings in South Sudan Surge Amid Escalating Conflict—A Dire Warning for America’s Strategic Interests

In the heart of Africa, South Sudan faces a resurgence of deadly conflict that has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives. Now, as fighting escalates between government forces and opposition groups, an alarming new threat has emerged: the kidnapping of aid workers is surging—more than doubling this year alone. While this crisis unfolds thousands of miles away, its ripple effects strike at the core of American values and strategic interests. The United States historically played a vital role supporting humanitarian efforts in South Sudan, but recent moves to dismantle key aid agencies and reduce funding risk abandoning vulnerable populations...