The SPLM-IO-appointed Commissioner of Akobo County, John Wiyual Lul, has dismissed rumours of his death, confirming he is alive and has taken refuge in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) following the recent fighting in Akobo.

Commissioner Wiyual said on Thursday that he and other civilians fled Akobo after intense clashes between SPLA-IO and SSPDF forces.

“I am not dead. I am alive and safe here in Pibor,” he stated.

“We ran away from Akobo because of the heavy fighting. The situation became very dangerous, so we had to leave.”

The commissioner revealed that he is currently in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area along with several other civilians who escaped the town.

He described the situation in Akobo as volatile, with ongoing insecurity preventing many residents from returning.

Akobo town has changed hands multiple times in recent weeks.

The SPLA-IO claimed to have recaptured it from government forces, while the SSPDF has maintained a strong military presence in the surrounding areas.

The communication blackout and conflicting reports from both sides have made it difficult to verify the current situation on the ground.

Many civilians remain displaced, with some crossing into Ethiopia for safety.

Commissioner Wiyual called for calm and urged all parties to prioritise the protection of civilians and allow humanitarian access to the area.

The fighting in Akobo has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in Jonglei State and the continued challenges facing the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.