Air view of Akobo town, Akobo County Headquarters - Courtesy

AKOBO, Jonglei State (Eye Radio) – Footage has emerged showing a group of people looting solar panels from the Akobo water pumping station shortly after the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) announced military control of the town.

Footage emerged on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, showing a group of people speaking the Nuer language 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.

One of the residents who witnessed the looting has to say in the Nuer language, also translated into English.

“It makes me wonder how the people of Akobo will access clean water. Everything has been stripped, even the solar panels. It is heartbreaking to see residents destroying the very resources they depend on,” stated an unnamed bystander who spoke in Nuer language.

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.