Micah Jonah, March 9, 2026
Thousands of civilians have fled the town of Akobo in eastern South Sudan after the army ordered residents and humanitarian workers to evacuate ahead of a planned military offensive.
The ultimatum was issued by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, which directed civilians, aid workers and United Nations personnel to leave the town before the operation begins.
Akobo, located near the border with Ethiopia, had been serving as a refuge for tens of thousands of displaced people. Local humanitarian officials said most residents had fled by Sunday, with many crossing into Ethiopia for safety.
“The town is now almost empty,” a local aid official said, noting that women, children and elderly residents had largely left the area.
The evacuation order is part of a wider government counteroffensive launched earlier this year to reclaim territories held by opposition forces.
Akobo is considered one of the last remaining strongholds of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, which is loyal to detained former vice president Riek Machar.
Most humanitarian personnel have been evacuated from the town, although some medical workers remain to treat injured patients at a surgical unit run by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The renewed fighting has raised concerns about the stability of the 2018 peace agreement that ended South Sudan’s civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with Machar.
The conflict, which lasted several years, killed an estimated 400,000 people and displaced millions across the country.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has warned that the country risks sliding back into full-scale civil war if political leaders fail to address the growing tensions.
Separately, local authorities reported that at least 169 people were killed in an attack on a village in northern South Sudan. Officials blamed the assault on armed groups linked to the White Army militia, although the group denied involvement.
Humanitarian organizations operating in the region have also reported attacks on medical facilities and aid workers, further complicating relief efforts.
