JUBA – Renewed fighting between government and opposition forces in Akobo County has triggered fresh fears among civilians, as civil society groups intensify calls for an immediate ceasefire to halt the escalating violence and prevent further harm to vulnerable communities.
In a statement dated 13/04/2026, the South Sudan Civil Society Alliance said it was “deeply concerned” about the resurgence of hostilities and the rapidly deteriorating security situation.
The alliance warned that continued clashes are exposing civilians to grave danger, with reports of attacks, destruction of property, and growing lawlessness.
“We are deeply concerned about the continued attacks, the safety and protection of civilians and their property, as well as the prevailing lawlessness,” the alliance said, stressing that the situation demands urgent intervention.
The group’s call for an immediate ceasefire comes after the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) recaptured Akobo town, dislodging the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in a Monday morning offensive.
The development raised fears of further escalation if the clashes are not contained, with senior government officials like Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, the Minister of Public Service and Human Resource Development, calling for retaliatory attacks from the government.
The SSCSA urged authorities to act swiftly to restore order and ensure the protection of affected populations.
In a separate statement, a coalition of civil society networks from across South Sudan echoed the demand for an urgent halt to hostilities, describing the renewed confrontation as alarming and destabilising. The coalition noted that the violence erupted less than two months after similar clashes in the same area, which had already pushed the region toward wider conflict.
“It is less than two months since similar hostilities occurred in the same area, dragging the country close to wider violence and increasing the suffering of displaced and vulnerable people,” the groups said.
The coalition highlighted the recurring nature of violence in northern Jonglei, noting that repeated clashes since the start of the year have severely disrupted recovery efforts. Many communities remain displaced, unable to return home or rebuild their livelihoods due to persistent insecurity.
“The people of Jonglei State ought to be given a chance to recover, return to their homes and rebuild their lives,” the statement added.
Both the SSCSA and the wider civil society coalition emphasised the urgency of an immediate ceasefire, calling on all warring parties to prioritise civilian protection and end hostilities without delay.
“We call upon all warring parties to spare the lives and properties of civilians, urgently cease hostilities and implement the peace agreement,” the groups said.
The SSCSA further urged authorities to hold accountable those responsible for inciting violence and to recommit to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.
“These developments pose a serious threat to peace, stability and peaceful coexistence among communities,” the alliance warned.
Civil society groups maintain that without an immediate ceasefire and full implementation of the peace deal, the cycle of violence in Jonglei will persist, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict.
Why do people demand peace and stability,when people are War.full stop let continue the Pain together.