The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has said it will not comply with a Government directive to shut down its base in Akobo, an opposition stronghold near the Ethiopia border where tens of thousands of civilians have sought refuge.
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces on Friday ordered UN peacekeepers, humanitarian organisations and civilians to evacuate the town ahead of a planned military assault.
However, the UN mission said it would maintain a “protective presence for civilians” in Akobo, stressing that the safety and security of its personnel must be respected. The mission added that it was engaging national and local authorities to address the situation.
Head of the mission Anita Kiki Gbeho warned that any military operations in or around the town could endanger civilians who have taken shelter there.
The tensions come amid renewed conflict following the collapse of a 2018 peace agreement between the government and opposition forces. Fighting intensified in December 2025, when rebels captured several government outposts in northern Jonglei State. A government counter-offensive in early 2026 forced them back and displaced more than 280,000 people.
As fears of an assault on Akobo grow, humanitarian workers have already been evacuated and residents have begun fleeing the area.
Meanwhile, the United States, United Kingdom, and Norway have urged Salva Kiir to revoke the evacuation order, warning that an offensive could lead to further deaths, displacement and humanitarian suffering.