United Nations peacekeepers have withdrawn from their temporary operating base in Akobo County in South Sudan’s Jonglei State after months of deployment to help protect civilians, the U.N. mission said on Monday.
The withdrawal, which took place over the weekend, comes despite continuing security concerns in the area and amid broader budget cuts at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
UNMISS spokesperson Priyanka Chowdhury told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the mission would continue to monitor the situation through regular patrols and engagement with local stakeholders.
“While peacekeepers have now withdrawn from Akobo, we will continue to address civilian protection through regular patrols to the area and consistent dialogue with relevant actors,” Chowdhury said.
She said the mission had postponed the closure of the temporary base because of worsening insecurity in the area.
“Despite significant resource constraints arising from the UN’s broader liquidity crisis, UNMISS deferred the closure of its Akobo base in direct response to deteriorating security conditions on the ground. During this period, the Mission maintained a protective presence while conducting intensive political engagement with stakeholders at all levels to reduce tensions. These efforts ultimately enabled displaced communities to begin returning to the area,” she said.
Chowdhury said the mission also facilitated humanitarian assistance while maintaining security for aid deliveries.
“Throughout this time, UNMISS has facilitated humanitarian partners in scaling up emergency assistance (food aid, WASH assistance, health), to tens of thousands of conflict-affected civilians, while providing force protection to ensure the safe delivery of aid,” she added.
Responding to complaints from some Akobo residents that U.N. assets had been destroyed or disposed of before the withdrawal, Chowdhury said all equipment was handled in accordance with established U.N. procedures.
She said disposal of property at mission bases is governed by strict regulations designed to prevent equipment left behind in conflict zones from being repurposed for harmful purposes.
“UNMISS conducted its withdrawal from Akobo in full accordance with these procedures,” she concluded.
Akobo, one of South Sudan’s most remote counties, saw clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) between March and April 2026. Government forces briefly captured the area before opposition fighters retook it in mid-April.
The fighting displaced thousands of civilians, although residents have recently begun returning to rebuild their lives.
The withdrawal comes as the United Nations faces a systemwide liquidity crisis that has forced UNMISS to reduce its budget by 15% within six months, resulting in an effective operational cut of between 25% and 30%.
On April 30, the U.N. Security Council renewed UNMISS’s mandate until April 30, 2027, while reducing the mission’s authorized troop ceiling to 12,500 from 17,000. The authorized police strength remains unchanged at 2,101.
The Security Council said the situation in South Sudan continues to pose a threat to international peace and security in the region.
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