By Lodu William Odiya
The Commissioner of Akobo County, James Kueth Makuach, has visited the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) stationed at Wei-Deng Noka, expressing readiness for peace and cooperation with the national army.
During the visit, Commissioner Kueth also called on civilians who fled their homes due to insecurity to return.
In an exclusive interview with No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, the SSPDF spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang, said the commissioner warmly welcomed the government forces.
“This morning, Hon. James Kueth Makuei, Commissioner of Akobo County, visited the gallant SSPDF forces at Wei-Deng Noka, a few kilometers west of Akobo town. The aim was to warmly welcome the government forces,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Lul said that the commissioner appealed to civilians to return to their respective homes as the situation stabilizes.
“He had appealed to civilians for them to return to their respective homes” Maj. General Lul added.
Lul clarified that commissioner Kueth was appointed by the governor of Jonglei state because he was advocating for peace, hence he is the right person who went to welcome the government forces.
“You know, Jonglei in Akobo County is the SPLM-IO stronghold. When he was advocating for peace” he said.
“So, he is the legitimate commissioner of Akobo County. That’s why he had gone to the city to welcome the government forces” Lul said.
The situation in Akobo reflects a broader context of escalating conflict. Akobo is one of the last strongholds of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by detained Vice President Riek Machar.
The peace agreement established in 2018 between Machar and President Salva Kiir has deteriorated since fighting intensified last year.
Since December, confrontations in Jonglei have significantly surged, with opposition forces initially capturing government outposts before being pushed back in counteroffensives that displaced over 280,000 individuals within weeks.
Akobo, positioned in the far east and held by opposition forces since the outbreak of civil war in 2013, was previously regarded as a refuge for the displaced, with over 82,000 individuals taking sanctuary around it due to the presence of a small contingent of U.N. peacekeepers.
Recently, Nongovernmental organizations and civilians were also asked to evacuate “in order to avoid unnecessary collateral damage,” as the government prepares a military assault targeting “Akobo and surrounding areas,” according to a statement by military spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang.