JUBA, South Sudan — A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in eastern South Sudan as thousands of civilians flee the opposition-controlled town of Akobo following a military evacuation order issued by government forces. The exodus, which began Saturday night, has left the border town near Ethiopia virtually empty according to local officials.
Nhial Lew, Akobo’s humanitarian affairs official, confirmed Sunday that “the town is now almost empty” with women, children, and elderly residents having crossed into Ethiopia. Despite the government’s Monday afternoon evacuation deadline, fighting has already erupted west of Akobo since Saturday, with machine gun fire audible approaching the town.
The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces issued formal evacuation notices to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Friday, demanding closure of its Akobo base. Military spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang stated that NGOs and civilians were instructed to evacuate to “avoid unnecessary collateral damage” during planned military operations targeting “Akobo and surrounding areas.”
Akobo represents one of the final strongholds of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by detained Vice President Riek Machar. The 2018 peace agreement between Machar and President Salva Kiir has effectively collapsed since fighting resumed between their forces last year.
Tensions have escalated dramatically in northern Jonglei since December, when opposition forces captured government outposts. A subsequent government counteroffensive displaced over 280,000 people within weeks. Akobo, previously considered a relative safe haven under opposition control since the 2013 civil war, had attracted more than 82,000 displaced persons due to the presence of UN peacekeepers.
UNMISS has not formally responded to the evacuation order. Two UN flights evacuated most humanitarian workers on Sunday, though the International Committee of the Red Cross maintained its surgical unit at Akobo County Hospital, where several wounded patients received treatment.
Local health authorities expressed grave concerns about impending military action. Akobo County Health Director Dual Diew stated, “We are worried for our patients at the hospital. We tried to make a plan to take them to a safer location, but we don’t have enough fuel.”
On Saturday, Akobo civilians demonstrated against the army’s ultimatum, marching toward the UN base while calling for peace and protection.