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The head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said the mission has postponed plans to close its base in Akobo last December despite UN-wide cost-cutting measures.

In early April, UNMISS later announced the closure of the Akobo base, saying the security situation had improved following sustained political engagement and peacekeeping efforts.

However, speaking to the media on Tuesday, Anita Kiki Gbeho said worsening insecurity in Jonglei State and escalating violence in Akobo forced UNMISS to reconsider the decision and temporarily maintain its presence in the area.

“We were scheduled to draw down our base in Akobo last December due to UN-wide cost-saving measures,” Gbeho said.

“However, given the security situation in Jonglei, as well as rising conflict in Akobo itself, we decided to retain our peacekeepers until we were confident that our political engagements had taken hold,” she added.

Gbeho explained that UNMISS would retain peacekeepers in Akobo until the mission was satisfied that its political and mediation efforts were producing results, tensions had eased, civilians were no longer under immediate threat, and humanitarian organizations could safely deliver aid to affected communities.