JUBA – The Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) has announced a 72-hour restriction on aircraft landing at Akobo Airstrip, escalating tensions over a disputed visit by Jonglei State Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok.
The directive, issued on Thursday by SPLA-IO Spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel and addressed to airline operators in Juba, takes effect from midday on 14 November 2025.
According to the statement, only aircraft belonging to UNMISS, other UN-marked planes, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will be permitted to land during the restriction period. The SPLA-IO has prohibited all private aviation companies from accessing the airstrip.
The group warned that any aircraft violating the order would be detained along with all passengers and crew, adding that it would not take responsibility for any resulting damage. The leadership further noted that the duration of the restriction may be extended depending on the security situation on the ground.
The move follows growing political friction stemming from Governor Gai’s planned peace and reconciliation visit to Akobo County.
Earlier this week, SPLM-IO Spokesperson and Chairperson of the National Committee for Information and Communication, Pal Mai Deng, declared that the Akobo community would not allow the governor to enter the area.
Mai argued that, under the terms of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the Jonglei State gubernatorial seat was allocated to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA). He said this makes Dr. Gai, who hails from the SPLM-In Government (SPLM-IG), an “illegitimate” governor in the eyes of the opposition.
However, the governor’s office dismissed the SPLM-IO’s position. Manath Gany, Press Secretary in the Office of the Governor, insisted preparations for the visit were already underway, emphasizing that Dr. Gai’s mission forms part of a broader peace and reconciliation campaign across Jonglei State. He stressed that the governor’s intention is to foster unity, rebuild trust, and strengthen cooperation among communities in the state.
But on Thursday, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel reiterated the SPLA-IO’s earlier warning, describing the governor’s planned visit as “politically motivated” and “aggressive.”
He said no official from the SPLM-IG would be allowed to enter areas controlled by the opposition. The spokesperson further accused government forces of previously using civilian aircraft to transport weapons and soldiers into SPLA-IO-held territories, a claim that appears to have informed the group’s decision to impose the temporary landing ban.
The dispute highlights persistent tensions between the SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO, and other signatories to the fragile 2018 peace agreement. With the SPLA-IO now restricting access to Akobo Airstrip for at least three days, the political standoff surrounding Governor Gai’s visit risks deepening mistrust between the two camps. The SPLA-IO says further communication will follow once the 72-hour restriction lapses, depending on developments on the ground.
