Authorities in Jonglei State have lost all communication with Akobo County as fighting continues between government forces and the opposition SPLA-IO, raising serious concerns about the security situation and the fate of civilians in the area.

The opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) claimed on Monday that its forces had recaptured the strategic border town of Akobo from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) following intense clashes.

John Wiyual Lul, the SPLA-IO-appointed commissioner of Akobo County, said that opposition fighters overran SSPDF positions and secured control of the town near the Ethiopian border.

However, Nyamar Lony Thichot, Jonglei State Minister of Information, said the government has been unable to obtain any updates from the area due to a complete communication blackout.

“Currently, I do not have any updates yet because we have lost communication,” she stated.

“There is no network currently, so we do not have any information from the Akobo County commissioner.”

The SSPDF has so far declined to confirm or deny the reported loss of the town.

Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said on Tuesday that the military would not issue a statement at this time due to the “fluidity of the security situation” in Akobo and surrounding areas.

“The nation will be updated once all missing links are successfully put together,” he said.

The renewed fighting has heightened insecurity in northern Jonglei.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) had earlier planned to close its temporary operating base in Akobo, but the closure—originally scheduled for December 2025—was delayed due to deteriorating security conditions.

With communications down and conflicting claims from both sides, the situation in Akobo remains unclear, leaving civilians vulnerable and humanitarian access uncertain.