Among the people rescued by the teams of the Ocean Viking are South Sudanese survivors of long journeys in search of safety. South Sudan continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis, with displacement driven by conflict and disasters. The war that began in neighbouring Sudan in 2023 further displaced people who had already fled South Sudan.
For many, the journey continued from South Sudan to the Mediterranean. In 2026, Ocean Viking teams rescued 19 South Sudanese people, including James*, Sudan* and Ayman*. Their stories shed light on the reasons behind these journeys, the realities of repeated displacement and their hopes for safety.
South Sudan became independent in 2011. In December 2013, fighting broke out between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those supporting his former vice-president, Riek Machar. The conflict was marked by widespread violence and displaced millions of people. For those who experienced the conflict as children, displacement became part of everyday life.
“When I was a child in Juba, I went to school and played football. In the afternoons, I looked after the cattle, and at night we played music and danced. That was my life before the war. I was 13 when it began to affect us. My family had to leave South Sudan, and we walked for 15 days to reach Sudan,”
For his family, displacement was followed by further loss.
“I left South Sudan because of the war, but the war did not leave my family alone. I have one sister, and all five of my brothers were killed. My parents are now living in a camp in Sudan, near the border with South Sudan.”
For James, conflict was compounded by family separation and a lack of access to education and support. “I had no one to take care of me. I had no school. That is why I left home, to survive.”
Second displacement to Sudan
For many South Sudanese, Sudan became a Place of refuge. Ayman was a child when his family fled there in 2014. He spent nine years in a refugee camp, where the family relied on humanitarian assistance for basic food.
But in April 2023, war broke out in Sudan, creating another displacement. “In 2023, war reached Sudan too,” Ayman says. “My parents were aging and were jobless and couldn’t support all four of us children.” He left for Libya, continuing a journey that had begun with displacement from his home country.
A journey to Libya
Lucien Migné / SOS MEDITERRANEE
In Libya, Ayman spent three years surviving through irregular day labour. “We earned around 20 dinars a day, but the work was never regular. You might find a job one day and nothing the next.” At one point, without enough money to travel north, he offered to work for a man transporting goats in exchange for a ride.
“We travelled in that truck for five days. My job was to make sure the sheep remained standing and did not lie down during the journey.”
Eventually, Ayman attempted the Mediterranean crossing. “I attempted the crossing four times. The first attempt failed when the rubber boat took on water and we turned back.”
Crossing the Mediterranean in a search of safety
Maria Giulia Trombini / SOS MEDITERRANEE
During Ayman’s final attempt, the boat became lost after the waves grew higher and the GPS stopped working properly.
“The waves became very high, and the GPS was not working properly. We got lost. We spent two nights on the boat before you rescued us.” Sudan also remembers the fear of the crossing and the uncertainty about what would happen next.
“I did not tell my mother I was leaving by sea. I knew she would cry and ask me not to go.”
“It is about freedom”
The journeys of Adam, Ayman and Sudan show how displacement can become a succession of movements rather than a single departure. Their hopes for the future are different, but all share a desire for stability and a life beyond displacement.
For Ayman, that future means education, sport and being able to support his family. “My dream for the future is to study, play basketball and support my family.”
For James, the priority is freedom.
“It is about freedom. The freedom is first.” He hopes one day to return to South Sudan and contribute to his country through politics and human rights.
“Of Course, I’d like to go [back to South Sudan]. But it’s not for now. But it will happen.”
*names of the survivors have been changed
Video: Javier Alvarez / SOS MEDITERRANEE
