Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesperson (Courtesy)
Akobo/South Sudan, March 15, 2026
Savanna Radio News Bulletin
South Sudan’s army says it has seized full control of Akobo town in eastern Jonglei State after days of intense military operations against opposition forces.
According to a statement delivered in Juba by the spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), government troops entered Akobo earlier this week following an offensive aimed at dislodging the Sudan People’s Liberation Army‑in‑Opposition (SPLA‑IO) from one of its last remaining strongholds near the Ethiopian border. The army claims its units advanced through a series of opposition‑held positions before “re‑liberating” the town and raising the national flag over key government installations.
Military officials say SSPDF forces met little resistance inside Akobo town itself after earlier clashes on the outskirts, but report casualties on both sides and the capture of vehicles and heavy weapons from opposition fighters. They describe the operation as part of a wider campaign to restore government authority in areas that have been under opposition influence since the outbreak of South Sudan’s conflict in 2013.
The takeover comes in the wake of a controversial evacuation order issued to civilians, humanitarian agencies and United Nations personnel ahead of the assault, which prompted thousands of residents to flee Akobo and seek safety in surrounding areas and across the border in Ethiopia. Humanitarian actors have warned that the fighting and mass displacement have left vulnerable communities with limited access to food, healthcare and protection.
While the SSPDF is urging aid organizations to resume operations in Akobo under government control, rights groups and observers are calling for independent verification of the situation on the ground, including the condition of civilians who remained and the treatment of captured combatants. The recapture of Akobo is likely to heighten tensions between the government and SPLA‑IO and raises fresh concerns over the future of the 2018 peace agreement, which has come under growing strain amid renewed clashes in several parts of the country.
Post comments (0)