March 12, 2026, the situation in Akobo Town, Jonglei State, is extremely critical following a wave of looting and a mass exodus of civilians and humanitarian staff. The unrest reached a peak between March 7 and March 9, 2026, following an evacuation order by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and subsequent clashes.
Current Status of Looting in Akobo (March 2026)
Humanitarian facilities have been severely targeted during the chaos. Reports indicate that the looting was carried out by “Nuer Youth, White Army and the SPLM-IO” amid the security vacuum created as organizations evacuated.
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Medical Facilities: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that its pharmacy and the pediatric ward at Akobo Hospital were systematically looted. Vital medicines and medical supplies were stolen, rendering the facility incapable of treating the thousands of displaced people in the area.
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NGO Compounds: MSF and other international NGOs reported that their offices and compounds were ransacked over the weekend of March 7–8.
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Public Infrastructure: Beyond humanitarian assets, the local government has condemned the destruction of telecommunications towers, private homes, and the local market.
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Walgak (Akobo County): Earlier in February 2026, facilities in Walgak (western Akobo) including a Save the Children office and a Primary Health Care Centre were burned and looted by armed men, setting a precedent for the current crisis in the main town.
The Role of Armed Groups
The current conflict involves a complex mix of state and non-state actors:
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SPLM/A-IO/WHITE ARMY: The Jonglei State government has formally accused elements of the SPLM/A-IO/WHITE ARMY (opposition forces) of carrying out the March 9 looting.
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Nuer Youth & White Army: While the “White Army” (Lou Nuer armed youth) has historically been a dominant force in Akobo, recent reports show a fragmented landscape. In February, some leaders of the White Army reportedly “disengaged” from the SPLA-IO to protect their local areas, but the current chaos has seen various armed youth groups taking advantage of the evacuation to seize supplies.
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SSPDF: The national army issued a 72-hour ultimatum on March 6 for all civilians and NGOs to vacate Akobo ahead of a planned offensive, which humanitarian groups say triggered the panic and subsequent looting.
Humanitarian Impact
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Mass Displacement: An estimated 200,000 to 270,000 people—many of whom were already displaced from other parts of Jonglei—have fled Akobo. Thousands have crossed the border into Ethiopia (specifically to Anywaa Land).
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Loss of Services: With MSF and other partners evacuated, there is virtually no primary healthcare available in a region hosting one of the highest concentrations of vulnerable people in the country.
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UN Presence: Despite the government order to leave, UNMISS (UN Peacekeepers) has officially refused to vacate its base in Akobo, vowing to remain to provide a “protective presence” for the few civilians who could not flee.
