Summary
Thousands of people have left the town of Akobo in South Sudan after the army ordered them to evacuate for a planned military attack. The order is part of an ongoing military campaign that has already displaced over 280,000 people since December. The situation threatens to escalate into full-scale war, undermining the fragile peace the country has worked hard to maintain.
Key Facts
- Thousands of civilians have left Akobo after the military ordered evacuations.
- The military plans an offensive against an opposition stronghold.
- The town had been a refuge for over 82,000 displaced people.
- The evacuation is part of Operation Enduring Peace, ongoing since January.
- More than 280,000 people have been displaced in Jonglei state since December.
- A previous peace agreement from 2018 is breaking down.
- Riek Machar, former vice president, has been under house arrest since March 2025.
- On Sunday, 169 people were killed in a separate attack in Abiemnom county.
