On Monday, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) claimed it had retaken control of the area, amid accusations of “senseless and unjustified attacks” that have endangered civilians and disrupted essential services.
In a brief but pointed statement issued Monday, SPLM-IO spokesperson Pal Mai Deng announced that “Akobo has fallen to SPLA-IO Sector Three Command under Gen. John Luk,” adding that further operational details would be released by Col. Lam Paul Gabriel.
Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, the Minister of Public Service and a senior member of the SPLM in Government (SPLM-IG) confirmed the development Monday, accusing the SPLA-IO and allied White Army forces of orchestrating two consecutive days of attacks on April 12 and 13.
“Enough is enough,” Gatkuoth said in a strongly worded statement, asserting that the assaults targeted South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) units “lawfully deployed to safeguard peace, security and territorial integrity,” while also putting civilians directly in harm’s way.
He described the violence as “a pattern of reckless failure,” citing attacks on civilians, disruption of basic services, and attempts to destabilise local communities. Gatkuoth maintained that the SSPDF remains committed to defending the country’s territorial integrity under the command of President Salva Kiir.
The latest escalation, reported on Monday, has drawn sharp concern from the Jonglei Civil Society Network, which warned that the resumption of hostilities risks worsening an already fragile humanitarian situation in the region.
Bol Deng Bol, Chairperson of the Jonglei Civil Society Network, condemned the return to violence, saying it is exacerbating the suffering of civilians, particularly internally displaced persons already struggling to survive.
“The relapse into violence must be strongly condemned. The ongoing confrontation risks undermining fragile peace efforts,” Bol said, warning that fighting in civilian-populated areas is deepening displacement and depriving vulnerable communities of basic needs.
He further cautioned that continued hostilities between signatories to the 2018 peace agreement threaten to erode trust and reverse gains made under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. According to Bol, sustained military engagement only widens divisions at a time when dialogue and compromise are urgently needed.
The civil society network also called on regional and continental actors, including the African Union, to intensify efforts aimed at consolidating peace and preventing further escalation. It urged both the SPLM-IO and SPLM-IG leadership to recommit to dialogue and fully implement the peace deal to avert further civilian suffering.
The recent clashes come amid the cautious return of civilians who were displaced during the previous circle of confrontation between the government and opposition forces.
