The Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) has recaptured Akobo town in Jonglei State after intense fighting with government forces.

The development was confirmed on Friday, April 10, 2026, by SPLA-IO officials.

According to SPLA-IO-appointed Commissioner of Akobo County, John Wiyual Lul, opposition forces launched a counter-offensive and regained control of the strategic border town after several days of clashes with the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

Akobo, located near the Ethiopian border, had been under SSPDF control for only a short period after government troops seized it in mid-March 2026.

It was previously one of the last major SPLA-IO strongholds in the Lou Nuer areas.

The recapture comes amid renewed fighting in northern Jonglei, which has displaced thousands of civilians and triggered a major humanitarian crisis in the region.

Many residents had already fled to Ethiopia following an earlier SSPDF evacuation order.

Neither the SSPDF nor the government has issued an official statement on the latest development as of Friday evening.

The fighting in Akobo further threatens the fragile 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement and raises concerns about the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers in the area.