Full Breakdown
Renewed Violence in Jonglei: Killing of Akobo County Commissioner Sparks Fears for South Sudan’s Peace Process
7/7/2026, 10:40:01 PM
Assassination of Akobo County Commissioner Amid Renewed Fighting
On Sunday, government-appointed Akobo County Commissioner James Kueth Makuach was killed during an early-morning assault on the Walgak payam in Jonglei State. Opposition forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) launched the attack, briefly seized the area and then withdrew after government reinforcements arrived from Waat. The incident marks the latest escalation in a series of clashes that have plagued the oil-rich eastern county.
Background & Context
The 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan designates the Akobo commissioner post to the SPLM-IO. Makuach, a member of the Jonglei State Legislative Assembly, defected from the SPLA-IO to the ruling SPLM in April 2023 after being removed by the opposition’s acting leadership on 16 January 2024. He was reappointed following a government offensive in March 2024, a move that contravenes the peace deal. United Nations peacekeepers withdrew from a local base in June 2024, and the country is preparing for its first national elections since independence, scheduled for 22 December 2026.
Timeline of Key Events
- 16 Jan 2024 – SPLM-IO acting leadership removes Makuach as commissioner.
- 21 Jan 2024 – Makuach steps down after local mediation.
- Mar 2024 – Government forces launch offensive; Makuach reappointed.
- Apr 2024 – SPLA-IO briefly retakes Walgak, displacing thousands.
- Jun 2024 – UN peacekeepers withdraw from Akobo.
- Sun Jul 2024 – Walgak attacked; Makuach killed; SPLA-IO claims capture.
Key Figures & Groups
- James Kueth Makuach – Government-appointed Akobo commissioner.
- SPLA-IO – Main armed opposition, led by detained First Vice President Riek Machar.
- SPLM – Ruling party of President Salva Kiir.
- SSPDF – South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, government-aligned troops.
- Civil-society coalition – Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Greater Akobo Civil Society Network (GACSN), National Civil Society Coalition (NCSC); leaders include Bol Deng Bol, Edmund Yakani, Sam Koang Malual.
Data & Statistics
Exact casualty figures remain unverified. SPLA-IO reports that Makuach, his executive director Tut Chai Riek, SSPDF Brigadier Chuol Pathot and officer Gai Makuach Pan were killed. Local sources note “several bodies” left behind. Akobo County hosts thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from earlier clashes, and humanitarian agencies are delivering food, medicine and shelter to the area.
Official Statements & Responses
The ruling party issued a statement condemning the “brutal killing” and announced an emergency session. SPLA-IO spokesperson Pal Mai Deng declared the capture of Walgak and reported heavy enemy casualties. Civil-society groups issued a joint appeal for an immediate ceasefire, urging the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) to investigate the incident and calling on the presidency to convene an inclusive political dialogue.
Criticism & Opposition
CEPO, GACSN and NCSC warned that renewed fighting threatens civilians, IDP camps and humanitarian operations. They emphasized that exclusion of SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar from talks risks further violence and called for unconditional cessation of hostilities.
On-the-Ground Reports
Geolocation analysis and eyewitness accounts confirm SPLA-IO’s eastward advance from Akobo, the withdrawal of government forces toward Waat and Pieri, and the death of the commissioner. Residents described displacement of families and disruption of cash-assistance distribution.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Government officials describe the commissioner’s whereabouts as “unknown,” while SPLA-IO and local sources assert he was killed. Both sides have not released comprehensive casualty numbers, leaving the human cost of the clash uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is an unfortunate relapse into violence and a clear threat to civilians, their property and humanitarian operations,” — Bol Deng Bol, civil society activist, Jonglei Civil Society Network
- “We express our deep concern and utter disappointment over the resumption of military hostilities between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Walgak, Akobo County of Jonglei State,” — Edmund Yakani, CEPO Executive Director
- “Our forces attacked and overran Walgak this morning before making a tactical withdrawal,” — John Wiyual Lul, SPLM-IO appointed commissioner of Akobo County
- “Commissioner James Kueth Makuach and his executive director, Tut Chai Riek, were killed. An SSPDF brigadier, Chuol Pathot, and another officer, Gai Makuach Pan, were also found dead.” — John Wiyual Lul
- “The enemy has suffered heavy casualties.” — Pal Mai Deng, SPLM-IO spokesperson
What’s Next
The December 2026 elections loom as the primary political milestone. Civil-society calls for a CTSAMVM-led investigation and for an inclusive dialogue that includes detained Vice President Machar underscore the fragility of the 2018 peace accord. Continued fighting could jeopardize both the electoral timetable and the safety of thousands of displaced civilians across Jonglei.
