Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A community radio station in Jonglei state’s Akobo County has been off air since March 8, 2026, citing security concerns following the takeover of the area by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).
The station is operated by the Community Peace Radio Organization (CPRO), a local non-governmental group established in 2017 by youth in the area.
Sam Koang, manager of Akobo 98.5 FM, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that staff had fled across the border into Ethiopia and evacuated studio equipment, fearing for their safety.
He said the team faced intimidation, including threats of arrest and withdrawal of the station’s operating license, after refusing orders from County Commissioner James Kueth Makuach to resume broadcasting.
“After the SSPDF evacuation order, we moved from Akobo town to Tiergol on the Ethiopian side of the border,” Koang said. “By March 8, civilians, including us, had left the town. We also took some equipment to a UNMISS facility for protection.”
Koang said the station’s management still considers it unsafe to resume operations and reported that some equipment left behind was looted.
“The equipment we could not carry was looted. I also received direct threats from the commissioner after refusing to reopen the station to air what we believe is propaganda,” he said. “We have also been accused of hindering the return of civilians to the town. The commissioner warned that our license could be withdrawn for refusing to resume operations.”
The Akobo County commissioner was not immediately available for comment.
Jonglei State Information Minister Nyamar Lony Thichiot dismissed the concerns, saying the security situation in Akobo had improved.
“Civilians have returned to Akobo in large numbers, the market is operating, and NGOs are returning,” she said. “Our governor, Dr. Riek, has been there for the past two weeks, which shows the town is safe. No official complaint from Akobo FM has been brought to my attention.”
Thichiot said she was in Juba to meet national officials to seek support for restoring telecommunications services in Akobo, where infrastructure was damaged during recent fighting.
“Network equipment, including solar systems and generators, was either destroyed or looted by retreating SPLA-IO forces,” she said. “We will also discuss support for local radio stations in the state.”
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