The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has called on humanitarian agencies to resume operations in Akobo County, saying security has improved after government troops reasserted control in the area.
Last week, the SSPDF deployed troops to the town of Akobo in Jonglei state after recapturing it from forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO).
Akobo, near the border with Ethiopia, is considered a strategic area. It had been the last remaining stronghold of the SPLA-IO in the Lou Nuer areas following the capture of bases in Nyirol and Uror counties.
In a statement issued on Saturday, army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said the military had “re-established firm control” in Akobo and surrounding areas following intensified stabilisation operations and engagement with local communities.
The appeal follows a recent period of heightened security tensions in Akobo County, during which the army ordered humanitarian organisations to evacuate staff, citing planned military operations against SPLA-IO forces, which had controlled the area for more than a decade since the civil war erupted in 2013.
The 72-hour evacuation order issued by the SSPDF on March 6 triggered a wider civilian exodus, leaving much of Akobo largely deserted, according to local accounts.
Many residents fled across the nearby border into Ethiopia, where some displaced civilians say they are reluctant to return due to lingering fears over security and uncertainty about conditions on the ground.
Koang said the improved security environment should now allow aid organisations to return “at the earliest time possible” and resume assistance to vulnerable populations.
The call comes as the rainy season approaches, a period that often worsens humanitarian conditions and restricts access to remote areas.
Koang also urged displaced civilians to return home and begin rebuilding their lives, citing what he described as a “conducive environment” for resettlement.
However, humanitarian access in parts of South Sudan has been repeatedly disrupted by insecurity and logistical challenges, forcing aid groups to suspend or scale back operations in recent months.
Aid agencies have not yet publicly responded to the army’s latest call.