AKOBO: Water infrastructure looted after SSPDF announces control of town

2026-03-12 - 12:59

AKOBO, Jonglei State (Eye Radio) – Newly emerged footage shows a group of people looting vital water infrastructure in Akobo Town on Wednesday shortly after the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) announced the recapture of the area. Footage emerged on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, showing an unknown group of people dismantling and carting away solar panels from the Akobo water point pumping station. The incident occurred following looting that took place after the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) announcement that they had captured the town. The destruction follows a period of tension in Jonglei State. On March 6, the SSPDF issued a 72-hour ultimatum for civilians, UNMISS peacekeepers, and humanitarian agencies to vacate Akobo ahead of military operations. While international partners urged a revocation of the order to prevent a humanitarian crisis, the army proceeded with its advance. By Wednesday, SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang confirmed that government forces had taken control of the town. However, the town is already deserted, with no population remaining. The vacuum created by the exodus of residents and aid agencies appears to have left key assets vulnerable to the looting that followed. The destruction of the solar-powered pumping system is a blow to the town’s infrastructure. The theft of the solar equipment during the looting has disabled the station, leaving the area without a functional water source. Despite the reports of looting and the lack of a current population, the reinstalled government commissioner, James Kueth Makuach, has urged residents and humanitarian organizations to return, stating the town is calm. The SSPDF has similarly directed agencies to resume operations, stating that the area is safe for aid delivery. For the families currently gathered on the banks of the Akobo River or seeking refuge in Ethiopia, the sight of looted services remains a factor in their decision to return. The crisis began on March 6 when the SSPDF ordered the UN and NGOs to vacate Akobo within 72 hours, leading to a mass exodus of civilians into Ethiopia once the deadline expired on March 9. By March 10, fighting was reported within Akobo town as the SSPDF moved to claim control. On March 11, video footage emerged revealing the destruction following the looting of solar panels at the main water station, coinciding with the official announcement by Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said that the military had captured the town.