In a bold stand for human safety, UN peacekeepers in South Sudan are refusing to abandon their Akobo base despite government demands to evacuate ahead of a military offensive. The town, near Ethiopia's border, shelters tens of thousands displaced by renewed fighting between President Salva Kiir's forces and opposition groups.
Tensions Escalate in Akobo
South Sudan's military ordered UN personnel, aid groups, and civilians to leave Akobo by Friday, March 13 – but the UN mission declared it will stay to maintain a 'protective presence.' Mission leader Anita Kiki Gbeho warned that military action could endanger vulnerable families sheltering there. 'We’re in urgent talks with all levels of government,' she said.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Doctors Without Borders evacuated staff over the weekend, only to discover their hospital looted afterward. Local health workers report moving dozens of wounded patients to overwhelmed Ethiopian clinics. 'People fleeing now face starvation and disease,' one aid worker told us anonymously. Over 280,000 have been displaced since December 2025, when opposition forces briefly seized parts of Jonglei State.
Global Powers Sound Alarm
The US, UK, and Norway – key supporters of South Sudan's shaky peace process – are urging President Kiir to withdraw the evacuation order. With peace talks stalled since late 2025, analysts fear this showdown could spark one of 2026's worst humanitarian disasters. 🔥
As night falls in Akobo, UN blue helmets remain at their posts – the last line of defense for civilians caught in the crossfire.
