UN peacekeepers refuse order to leave South Sudan opposition stronghold

UN Peacekeepers in South Sudan (Photo Credit: UNMISS)

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has said it will keep its peacekeeping force in the town of Akobo despite an order by the South Sudanese military to vacate the area ahead of a planned offensive.

In a statement issued on Monday, the UN mission warned that military operations in and around the town could place civilians at grave risk.

Akobo, located in northeastern South Sudan near the Ethiopian border, is currently under the control of opposition forces and has become a refuge for tens of thousands of displaced civilians.

The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces ordered civilians, humanitarian organisations and UN personnel to leave the area on 6 March, giving peacekeepers a 72-hour deadline to withdraw ahead of a planned assault.

However, UNMISS said it would not comply with the order and would maintain its presence in the town.

“For its part, UNMISS reaffirms that its peacekeepers will remain in Akobo, providing a protective presence for civilians. The Mission reiterates that the safety and security of its personnel, premises, and assets must be fully respected at all times,” the mission said.

The UN also warned that any escalation of fighting around the town could have devastating consequences for civilians already displaced by months of violence.

“Any military operations in and around Akobo gravely endanger the safety and security of civilians,” said mission chief Anita Kiki Gbeho.

The situation in Akobo has deteriorated rapidly amid rising tensions between government forces and opposition groups.

Fears of a return to full-scale civil war have grown following a surge in violence over the past year.

The conflict escalated significantly in December 2025 when opposition forces captured several government outposts in northern Jonglei state. A counter-offensive by government troops a month later pushed opposition fighters back but displaced more than 280,000 people.
Many of those displaced have sought refuge in Akobo, where a small contingent of UN peacekeepers is stationed.

Amid fears of a government assault on the town, humanitarian organisations have begun evacuating staff. Doctors Without Borders confirmed that it withdrew its personnel from Akobo on Saturday.

Local officials say civilians fleeing the area face serious risks, including shortages of food, medicine and basic supplies. Dual Diew, the health director for Akobo County, said dozens of wounded patients had been evacuated across the border into Ethiopia.

Western governments involved in South Sudan’s peace process have also expressed concern over the situation. The United States, the United Kingdom and Norway sent a joint letter to President Salva Kiir urging him to revoke the army’s evacuation order. The three governments warned that an offensive against Akobo could lead to “further deaths, displacement and suffering for the South Sudanese people”.

Read more from AFP here.

Source: https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/un-peacekeepers-refuse-order-leave-south-sudan-opposition-stronghold