UN: South Sudan Army Offensive Forces 100,000 to Flee into Ethiopia

About 100,000 people have fled the town of Akobo in South Sudan into Ethiopia after the army ordered an evacuation amid renewed fighting with opposition forces. The violence has worsened humanitarian conditions, with hospitals looted, health facilities destroyed, and high levels of child malnutrition reported. The situation has raised fears that South Sudan could slide back into full-scale civil war as a fragile peace deal continues to break down.

An evacuation order issued by South Sudan’s army earlier this month has triggered a massive displacement crisis, forcing an estimated 100,000 people to flee the opposition-held town of Akobo and cross into neighbouring Ethiopia, according to the United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, on Tuesday.
Akobo, located in the eastern Jonglei state, has become the latest hotspot in escalating tensions between government forces and opposition fighters. The renewed clashes have heightened fears that South Sudan could once again descend into a full-scale civil war, reversing fragile gains made in recent years.
On March 6, the South Sudanese army ordered a complete evacuation of Akobo, a directive that applied not only to civilians but also to foreign humanitarian organisations operating in the area. The military has since claimed that it has taken control of the town. However, conflicting accounts from sources on the ground have made it difficult to independently verify the situation, largely due to disrupted communication networks and restricted access.
A security source who spoke to AFP indicated that government forces had seized control of the military barracks in Akobo. The source further alleged that surrounding buildings were destroyed as part of efforts to establish a buffer zone around the area. Despite these claims, no formal or detailed report has been released by authorities to confirm the extent of the military’s actions.
Meanwhile, UNICEF painted a dire picture of the humanitarian situation, warning that violence continues to spread across Jonglei state, significantly worsening conditions for vulnerable populations, particularly children. The agency described the situation as rapidly deteriorating, with widespread displacement and limited access to essential services.
According to UNICEF, approximately 100,000 people have fled into Ethiopia to escape the violence, while many others have been displaced internally, seeking refuge in relatively safer parts of Jonglei and neighbouring Upper Nile state. The sudden mass movement of people has placed immense strain on already limited resources in host communities and aid operations.
The agency also raised alarm over the collapse of healthcare services in the affected areas. It reported that all patients receiving treatment at Akobo hospital, which had previously served as a critical safe haven for the sick and injured, have been forced to flee. The hospital itself has reportedly been looted and is no longer operational, further compounding the humanitarian crisis.
Children among the displaced population are facing particularly severe challenges. UNICEF highlighted that malnutrition rates among these children are “worryingly high,” signalling an urgent need for food assistance and medical support. The destruction and disruption of healthcare infrastructure have only worsened the situation.
So far this year, at least 28 health and nutrition facilities across Jonglei state have been destroyed, looted, or forced to shut down. This comes at a time when the region is grappling with a cholera outbreak, raising serious concerns about the potential for further loss of life if urgent interventions are not made.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence in 2011 but quickly descended into a brutal civil war marked by ethnic violence and political rivalry. Although a power-sharing agreement was signed in 2018 between President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival Riek Machar, the deal has been steadily weakening since early 2025.
Recent clashes in multiple parts of the country have reignited fears that the fragile peace could collapse entirely, plunging the nation back into widespread conflict. The ongoing violence, combined with extreme poverty and entrenched corruption, continues to leave millions of South Sudanese in a precarious and uncertain situation.