(UNITY STATE) – The government of South Sudan has confirmed that 1,710 (one thousand seven hundred and ten) Sudanese Armed Forces personnel crossed into its territory after losing control of the Heglig oilfield to the Rapid Support Forces. The withdrawal followed heavy fighting near one of the most important oil sites shared by both countries.
South Sudan state television showed images of South Sudanese soldiers alongside RSF fighters inside Heglig shortly after the RSF took control of the area. Other footage appeared to show Sudanese troops moving into South Sudanese territory after leaving the oil installation.
Heglig lies on the border between Sudan’s West Kordofan state and South Sudan. It contains key infrastructure, including about seventy five wells and several storage and processing facilities. The site processes between eighty thousand and one hundred thousand barrels of crude per day for both countries and is part of the line that transports South Sudanese oil to Port Sudan. The loss of Heglig therefore affects the revenue collected by the Port Sudan based government, including transit fees from South Sudan.
The oilfield is central to the Greater Nile Oil Pipeline, which runs for about one thousand six hundred kilometres from Unity oilfield in South Sudan to the Sudanese coast. The security of this corridor is considered essential for South Sudan, where oil revenues remain the main source of government income.
Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny told reporters in Juba that the Sudanese troops who entered Unity State were led by Brigadier Tariq Mokhtar. He said the group included one thousand six hundred and fifty non commissioned officers and sixty officers. The soldiers handed over their weapons to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and surrendered. He said that arrangements were being made to return them to Sudan.
He also confirmed that South Sudan has negotiated a security arrangement between the SSPDF, SAF and RSF. Under this agreement, the SSPDF has taken full responsibility for security in the Heglig zone, while RSF fighters have moved to the northern section of the field. The aim is to prevent further clashes around the oil installations.
He said both Sudanese armed groups had sought control of the oil site, but South Sudan’s priority was to protect production and keep the flow of crude uninterrupted. He added that South Sudan was mediating between the two sides and that the SSPDF was not taking part in the fighting.
Ateny said President Salva Kiir had spoken with the leaders of both RSF and SAF to calm the situation and to prevent any destruction of the oilfield. He also said that although both sides have the ability to damage the infrastructure, neither has the means to stop the consequences of a major pipeline breach.
He reported that there had been no serious damage to the field and that oil production had not been stopped. He said the government had received no information about any disruption that could threaten the flow of oil.
However, tension remains high. The SSPDF has said that seven of its soldiers were killed by a drone strike carried out by Sudanese forces at the oilfield earlier in the week. The incident has increased concerns about the safety of the area as regional pressure grows to protect the pipeline.
A summary of the troop movement is shown below:
| Force | Number entering Unity State | Weapons status |
|---|---|---|
| SAF officers | 60 | Surrendered to SSPDF |
| SAF non commissioned officers | 1,650 | Surrendered to SSPDF |
| Total | 1,710 | All handed over |
Oil volumes processed at Heglig are shown for context:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Daily crude processed | 80,000 to 100,000 barrels |
| Pipeline length | About 1,600 kilometres |
