SSPDF to secure vital Heglig oil field after RSF takeover: spokesman.
By Denis Ejulu
The South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) will take charge of securing the vital Heglig oil field following a tripartite agreement agreed upon by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support
Forces (RSF).
Ateny Wk Ateny, Minister of Information, Communication Technology, and Postal Services, said on Thursday that the government of South Sudan has consistently advocated for a peaceful and diplomatic
resolution to the Sudanese conflict since the outbreak in April 2023.
“We commend President Salva Kiir Mayardit for his prompt intervention to de-escalate the tension along the border with our sisterly nation, Sudan,” Ateny told journalists in Juba.
The Heglig oil field, which contains the central processing plant for South Sudan’s crude, was recently captured by the RSF on Dec. 8.
Ateny also disclosed that they are hosting some of the soldiers belonging to the Sudan Armed Forces who retreated to South Sudan’s northern Unity state following the attack by the Rapid Support Forces on the Heglig oil field.
“These clashes resulted in the tactical withdrawal of SAF Brigade 90-22 Division/Babanusa towards the territory of the Republic of South Sudan. Upon their arrival in Panakuac, Unity state, SAF units handed
over infantry weapons to their SSPDF counterparts, as international law requires,” he revealed.
The development comes in the aftermath of South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum and the Joint Operating Companies (JOC) having announced the resumption of oil production following an earlier drone
attack by the RSF on the Heglig oil field.
“The government of the Republic of South Sudan regrets these new bouts of hostilities and urges both the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to embrace ongoing regional and international
mediation initiatives,” Ateny said.
Ateny noted that renewed fighting between the two rival forces continues to negatively impact the lives and property of the Sudanese population, while stressing that the violence has also intensified the
displacement of civilians into South Sudan.
South Sudan currently hosts over 500,000 Sudanese refugees who fled fighting since 2023.
Heglig sits in the Muglad Basin and hosts some of Sudan’s most important oil fields. It contains roughly 75 wells and key infrastructure, including pipelines, tanks, and processing stations. It is also a main hub for crude pumped from South Sudan to Port Sudan for export.
