The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said Monday that its peacekeepers will remain in Akobo town to protect civilians despite the recent military directive ordering them and humanitarian groups to leave ahead of planned operations against opposition forces.
In a statement, the mission said it is engaging with national, state and local authorities following a March 6 announcement by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces instructing civilians in Akobo and nearby villages to relocate before an anticipated military offensive.
The same order also directed U.N. peacekeepers and humanitarian partners to leave the area within 72 hours, raising concerns about the safety of thousands of residents, including recently displaced people.
“For its part, UNMISS reaffirms that its peacekeepers will remain in Akobo, providing a protective presence for civilians,” the mission said.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, the mission’s officer-in-charge, warned that military operations in and around Akobo could place civilians at grave risk and urged all parties to prioritize their protection.
“Any military operations in and around Akobo gravely endanger the safety and security of civilians,” she said, adding that the mission relies on assurances from all sides that every possible measure will be taken to protect communities.
UNMISS also emphasized that the safety and security of U.N. personnel, premises and assets must be respected at all times as it continues operations in the area.
The warning comes amid heightened tensions in Akobo, a town in Jonglei State near the border with Ethiopia that has recently seen an influx of displaced people fleeing violence elsewhere in the region.
South Sudan’s government on Monday defended the military order calling for the closure of the UNMISS temporary base in Akobo, saying the move followed earlier coordination with the mission.
Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny said the directive from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces was a follow-up to previous correspondence between the government and the United Nations.
“The writing from the SSPDF was a follow-up of those correspondences,” Ateny said, adding that the communication was meant to remind the mission of what he described as a prior understanding that the U.N. would eventually withdraw from Akobo.
Meanwhile, civilians in Akobo have begun fleeing across the border into Ethiopia after the 72-hour ultimatum expired Monday, according to local officials.
John Wiyual Lul, the SPLM-IO-appointed commissioner of Akobo County, told Radio Tamazuj that many residents had crossed into neighboring Ethiopia, fearing a possible offensive by government forces.
The U.N. mission was established by the Security Council in 2011 to help stabilize South Sudan. Its mandate includes protecting civilians, supporting the implementation of peace agreements, monitoring human rights abuses and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid.