The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has refused to comply with a government order to close its base in Akobo, an opposition stronghold near the Ethiopian border where tens of thousands of displaced civilians have sought refuge.
The South Sudan army ordered UN peacekeepers, humanitarian organisations and civilians to evacuate the town ahead of a planned military operation.
However, the UN mission said it would remain in Akobo to maintain “a protective presence for civilians,” stressing that the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel must be respected.
Mission chief Anita Kiki Gbeho warned that any military operations in or around Akobo could put civilians at serious risk.
The decision comes as tensions continue to rise following the collapse of the fragile peace deal signed in 2018 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and opposition factions.
Violence escalated sharply in December 2025 when opposition forces seized several government outposts in northern Jonglei state. A government counteroffensive later pushed them back but displaced more than 280,000 people.
With thousands of civilians now sheltering in Akobo, humanitarian organisations have evacuated staff amid fears of an imminent government assault.
Meanwhile, United States, United Kingdom and Norway have urged President Kiir to cancel the evacuation order, warning that an attack on the town could lead to further deaths, displacement and humanitarian suffering.
