Switzerland suspends MSF funding over sexual exploitation reports

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has suspended CHF 1.25 million in funding to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) following allegations of widespread sexual exploitation in Chad. The frozen amount is one tranche of a total CHF 6.25 million pledged to the organization for the current year.

An internal MSF investigation identified 59 reports of sexual violence and exploitation, primarily targeting women and young girls fleeing the civil war in Sudan. The reports allege that staff members exchanged money, jobs, or humanitarian aid for sexual favors. This investigation led to the dismissal of 18 employees, including six from MSF’s Swiss branch.

Swiss authorities have accused MSF of failing to provide timely and complete information regarding the scale of the misconduct. While the SDC received an initial alert via email from MSF’s Geneva headquarters in November 2024, the full extent of the situation only became clear following press reports in June 2026. Critics have noted that the Swiss Confederation was effectively operating in the dark despite early indications of the crisis.