In February 2013, Akon was included on the list of officers from the Sudan People's Liberation Army to be placed on reserve status. He held the rank of Brigadier-General at the time.[2]
In December 2013, Akon was detained along with ten other members of the ruling party, the SPLM, after a failed coup. He was released on 27 December 2013 alongside the ex-minister for higher education, Peter Adwok Nyaba. Akon had formerly served as director in the previous Vice President's office.[3]
In 2020, he was a member of the Cabinet of South Sudan.[4] He was dismissed from the cabinet in July 2021, along with all serving members at the time.[5] On 2 August 2021, he was sworn in as the Speaker for the Council of States alongside the entirety of the Parliament.[6] He urged the separation of powers and adherence to the constitution in an address to the governors and chief administrators of each state at the governor's forum on 22 November 2021.[7]
In August 2022, the Mayom County Commissioner was summarily executed.[8] The Council of States then passed a vote of no confidence in Unity State Governor Dr. Joseph Monytuil. Akon, as the Speaker, received a letter dated 25 August 2022 that the Council was not permitted to pass that vote and would only be able to censure Monytuil with a three-quarter majority of the combined parliament.[9]
