JUBA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) announced Wednesday that it has recaptured the strategic border town of Akobo in eastern Jonglei State from fighters of the opposition forces, following a military offensive launched earlier this week.
Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson of the SSPDF, said the town, located near the border with Ethiopia, was retaken on Monday after government forces advanced through several locations previously held by the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO).
"I would like to proudly announce to our own rank and file and the public the re-liberation of the historical border town of Akobo," Koang told journalists during a press briefing in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
He said government forces eventually entered the town on Tuesday without resistance, adding that more than 50 opposition fighters were killed during earlier engagements, while seven vehicles mounted with heavy weapons were captured.
According to Koang, the army also suffered casualties during the clashes, with 13 soldiers killed and 20 others wounded.
The spokesperson said the military offensive was launched days after authorities ordered civilians, humanitarian agencies, and United Nations personnel to evacuate the town in anticipation of fighting.
Following the recapture of the town, the army called on aid agencies to urgently resume humanitarian operations.
Koang added that the security situation in Akobo and the surrounding areas has stabilized, urging displaced residents who had fled across the border or into nearby areas to return home. ■