Exodus from Akobo: Civilians Flee South Sudan's Opposition Stronghold

Thousands of civilians have evacuated Akobo, an opposition-held town in South Sudan, following an army order to clear the area for a military operation. Officials reported that the exodus began on Saturday night, resulting in a near-empty town. Women, children, and the elderly have sought refuge across the border in Ethiopia.

The government's deadline for evacuation was initially set for Monday afternoon, but fighting west of Akobo has already started. Nhial Lew, a local humanitarian official, confirmed on Sunday evening that the sound of machine guns was audibly approaching. The South Sudan People's Defense Forces issued an evacuation order to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan and various NGOs to avoid collateral damage amid planned military assaults targeting Akobo and nearby regions.

Akobo, previously considered a safe haven due to U.N. peacekeeper presence, is one of the last bastions of the SPLM-IO led by Riek Machar. As peace deals fragment, confrontations between opposing forces have intensified, displacing thousands. Local health authorities express heightened concern for patient evacuation as fuel shortages impede relocation efforts during these tense times.