South Sudan Fighting Forces 100,000 to Flee Into Ethiopia
Last update: March 17, 2026
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The army ordered the evacuation of Akobo, including aid agencies earlier this month...
An order by South Sudan’s army to evacuate the opposition-held town of Akobo earlier this month forced about 100,000 people to flee into Ethiopia, the UNICEF said on Tuesday.
Akobo, in Jonglei state, has become the latest flashpoint in escalating clashes between government forces and opposition fighters, raising fears that South Sudan could slide back into full-scale civil war.
The army ordered the evacuation of the town, including aid agencies, on March 6 and says it has since taken control, though reports from the area remain unverified due to limited communications.
A security source said troops had seized military barracks and destroyed nearby buildings to create a buffer zone, but no official confirmation has been issued.
UNICEF said violence across Jonglei was worsening conditions for civilians, particularly children, with many displaced to neighbouring regions or across borders.
“All those receiving treatment in Akobo hospital have fled, and the facility has been looted and closed,” the agency said.
UNICEF added that malnutrition among displaced children was rising sharply.
CBI News understands that at least 28 health and nutrition facilities in Jonglei have been destroyed, looted or shut this year, amid a cholera outbreak.
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, remains fragile despite a 2018 power-sharing deal between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar, with renewed clashes since early 2025 fuelling fears of renewed war.
