JUBA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's opposition Sudan People's Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) said on Monday that it has recaptured Akobo County.
The strategic county, located on the border with Ethiopia, was retaken barely a month after the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) first seized control of the area.
SPLA-IO spokesperson Lam Paul Gabriel said that their forces had recaptured Akobo headquarters and inflicted heavy losses on the SSPDF, which on March 11 announced the capture of Akobo from opposition forces.
"Several small- and medium-range weapons were also captured in good condition. The human losses on the government's side are higher than those in the Yuai and Pajut clashes combined. The SPLA-IO regrets the loss of lives caused by these provoked clashes," Gabriel said in a statement.
Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, minister of public service and human resource development, confirmed the opposition's takeover of Akobo County, saying that the attack had lasted for two consecutive days starting Sunday.
"For two consecutive days, April 12 and 13, 2026, the people of Akobo have endured senseless and unjustified attacks by the SPLA-IO and the White Army. These actions have not only targeted SSPDF peace forces, who are lawfully deployed to safeguard peace, security and territorial integrity, but have also placed innocent civilians in harm's way," Gatkuoth said in a statement.
He condemned the violence against civilians, the disruption of essential services, and attempts to destabilize communities, warning that it deepens suffering.
Since March 7, the SSPDF and the SPLA-IO have engaged in intense clashes in and around Akobo County, following a 72-hour evacuation order issued by the SSPDF on March 6, which directed civilians, United Nations peacekeepers, and humanitarian agencies to vacate the area ahead of offensive operations. ■
