By South Sudan Youth Reforms (SSYR)
July 2025
In the wake of escalating violence, famine, and displacement in Upper Nile State, the South Sudanese government has turned to a controversial new model of humanitarian delivery: “private airdrops.” On the surface, these airdrops—carried out by foreign contractors like Fogbow—appear to be a lifeline for starving populations in Nasir and Ulang. But for many in these areas, particularly among the Nuer communities, the airdrops raise as many questions as they answer.
In a region still reeling from government airstrikes, hospital closures, and ethnic persecution, can the same regime that bombs a village also be trusted to feed it?
Just weeks after government airstrikes flattened parts of Nasir and neighboring counties, planes returned—not with bombs, but with sacks of food. These airdrops were not from the United Nations or the World Food Programme (WFP), but private companies hired by Juba, including Fogbow, a U.S.-based startup. South Sudanese officials hailed the operation as a “sovereign response” to hunger. But locals saw a dark irony.
The White Army, a youth militia rooted in Nuer self-defense, has long resisted government encroachment. In response, the SSPDF launched a full-scale military campaign including airstrikes, disarmament raids, and reported use of Ugandan soldiers. Now, the same regime is offering food airdrops, creating deep mistrust.
Unlike UN aid, private contractor food deliveries are not subject to independent monitoring. Questions about quality, contamination, political favoritism, and lack of cultural appropriateness remain. Local leaders report they were not consulted, and many fear the food could be poisoned or strategically weaponized.
Over 600 tonnes of food were reportedly dropped into Upper Nile in recent months, with no transparency over its contents or destinations. Some villages are bypassed, others rewarded based on political loyalty. Critics say this is not aid—it is psychological warfare.
Over 32,000 people in Nasir and Ulang are facing catastrophic hunger. The main hospital in Ulang is closed. People sleep along rivers, eat wild roots, and face death daily. Food is vital—but without dignity and trust, it cannot bring peace.
Airdropping food into starving villages just days after bombing them is a tragic paradox. Until there is accountability, neutrality, and local leadership, these actions will only deepen wounds. True peace cannot come from parachutes alone.