South Sudan Deploys Troops to Heglig Oilfield Amid Sudan’s Civil War Spillover: A Strategic Move to Safeguard Regional Energy Lifeline
By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com
Juba, South Sudan – December 29, 2025
In an unprecedented development that underscores the deepening regional implications of Sudan’s protracted civil war, South Sudan has deployed its military forces to secure the strategic Heglig oilfield in neighboring Sudan. This move, confirmed by South Sudanese officials on December 11, follows the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) capture of the site on December 8 and a subsequent deadly drone strike that claimed dozens of lives. The deployment, authorized under a tripartite agreement involving South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), aims to neutralize the oilfield as a combat zone and protect vital infrastructure critical to both nations’ economies.
The Heglig oilfield, located in West Kordofan state along the volatile Sudan-South Sudan border, has long been a flashpoint. Once a contested territory that sparked a brief armed conflict between Khartoum and Juba in 2012, Heglig has now become entangled in Sudan’s internal strife, which erupted in April 2023 between the SAF and RSF. As of late December 2025, efforts to restart oil production are underway, marking a tentative stabilization after weeks of tension, but the situation remains fragile amid ongoing clashes in the broader Kordofan region.
The RSF Capture: A Swift and Strategic Takeover
The crisis escalated on December 8 when RSF paramilitaries seized control of Heglig without significant resistance. SAF units, facing overwhelming RSF advances, withdrew to avoid damaging the facilities, evacuating engineers, workers, and troops across the border into South Sudan’s Unity State. Reports indicate that approximately 3,900 Sudanese soldiers surrendered their weapons, including tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery, to South Sudanese forces in Rubkona County.
RSF statements celebrated the capture as a blow to the “terrorist Muslim Brotherhood Army,” claiming it secured the area after SAF fled. Youssef Aliyan, head of the RSF-affiliated civil administration in West Kordofan, announced the formation of a specialized protection force to safeguard the oil installations. Video footage released by the RSF showed fighters inside the facility, emphasizing their intent to prevent sabotage.
For South Sudan, the takeover was immediately alarming. Heglig houses Sudan’s largest oilfield and serves as the central processing facility for roughly 130,000 barrels per day (bpd) of South Sudanese crude, which is piped through the 1,600-kilometer Greater Nile Pipeline to Port Sudan for export. Oil accounts for over 90% of South Sudan’s government revenue, making any disruption a direct threat to Juba’s fragile economy.
The Drone Strike: Escalation and Casualties
Tensions peaked on December 9 when the SAF launched a drone strike on RSF positions near the oilfield, killing dozens. The RSF condemned the attack as an attempt to destroy the facility, reporting deaths among engineers, workers, local administrators, RSF fighters, and even South Sudanese personnel. Estimates vary: one eyewitness account put the toll at around 25, while RSF sources claimed higher numbers, including allied tribal leaders.
South Sudanese officials later confirmed that at least seven of their soldiers were killed in the strike, despite the nascent agreement to secure the site. The incident highlighted the risks of spillover, with drone warfare—a hallmark of Sudan’s conflict—now endangering neutral parties. SAF sources justified the strike as targeting RSF combatants, but it underscored the challenges of enforcing neutrality in a demilitarized zone.
The Tripartite Agreement: South Sudan’s Neutral Guardianship
By December 10, high-level diplomacy bore fruit. South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) Chief of Staff General Paul Nang announced the deployment from Heglig itself, stating that troops entered under the tripartite pact. “The three agreed that the area of Heglig should be protected because it is a very important strategic area for the two countries,” Nang told state broadcaster SSBC News. The deal mandates the withdrawal of SAF and RSF forces from the immediate vicinity, with SSPDF assuming sole responsibility for security.
Nang emphasized strict neutrality: “The primary goal is to completely neutralize the Heglig field from any combat operations… because this field represents an economic lifeline not only for South Sudan but for Sudan as well.” Footage showed SSPDF troops alongside departing RSF units, a rare sight of cooperation amid enmity.
The agreement builds on prior oil and security pacts between Juba and Khartoum, which include provisions for protecting pipelines and pumping stations. Tribal leaders along the border played a mediating role, facilitating evacuations and de-escalations.
Historical Context: A Recurring Border Hotspot
Heglig’s significance dates back decades. Part of the Muglad Basin, it was awarded to Sudan by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2009, but South Sudan claimed it during its 2011 independence. The 2012 invasion by South Sudanese forces led to a brief war, resolved through African Union mediation, with Juba withdrawing troops.
Today’s crisis echoes that history but is complicated by Sudan’s civil war. Production at Heglig had already plummeted from 65,000 bpd pre-war to around 20,000 bpd due to insecurity. In November 2025, prior RSF drone strikes forced temporary shutdowns, and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) invoked force majeure, ending its 30-year operations in nearby blocks.
South Sudan’s economy, projected to grow 25% in 2025 from pipeline restarts elsewhere, hinges on Heglig’s functionality. Transit fees provide Sudan with crucial hard currency, even under RSF control in western regions.
Recent Developments: Tensions, De-escalation, and Restart Efforts
Mid-December saw brief flare-ups. On December 21, a “misunderstanding” involving an RSF vehicle near the oilfield sparked tensions with SSPDF, but both sides quickly contained it, denying armed clashes. South Sudanese sources dismissed confrontation reports as misinformation.
By December 17, South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Semaya Kumba announced an agreement with the Sudanese government (Port Sudan-based) to resume operations at Heglig and nearby Bamboo fields. However, talks collapsed over RSF demands for revenue shares, leaving the field shut.
As of December 29, positive signs emerge. Oil engineers report technical teams redeploying from Juba, with a power station restarted and a committee formed to oversee resumption. “Some of us are already here in Heglig. We came from Juba, where we were on standby,” one anonymous engineer told Radio Tamazuj. South Sudan pushes for swift restarts, citing the facility’s role in exporting Unity oilfields’ crude.
Yet, broader Kordofan fighting persists. RSF advances toward Kadugli and Dilling continue, with drone strikes and shelling reported. Over 2,700 South Sudanese returnees have fled to Aweil East and Twic County, appealing for aid amid open-air encampments.
Broader Implications: Economic, Humanitarian, and Geopolitical Ripples
The Heglig saga exemplifies Sudan’s war spillover. With RSF controlling Darfur and much of Kordofan, including Babanusa (captured December 1), the paramilitaries hold leverage over oil routes. Analysts warn RSF could use Heglig for bargaining or independent revenue, potentially forcing South Sudan into uneasy alliances.
Economically, disruptions exacerbate South Sudan’s woes: hyperinflation, currency devaluation, and reliance on oil amid internal challenges like drug crackdowns and refugee influxes from Sudan (over 600,000 hosted). For Sudan, losing Heglig dims revenue prospects, pushing reliance on eastern taxation.
Humanitarian fallout is dire. The UN warns of escalating atrocities, with famine in multiple areas and 13-14 million displaced. Attacks on aid workers surge, complicating relief.
Geopolitically, South Sudan’s neutrality is tested. Accusations of RSF bias persist, despite denials. International actors—UAE (alleged RSF backer), Egypt (SAF supporter)—watch closely, as do IGAD and AU mediators.
Looking Ahead: Fragile Stability or Renewed Conflict?
As 2025 ends, Heglig symbolizes intertwined fates. SSPDF guardianship has averted immediate catastrophe, enabling restart preparations. But with RSF momentum and SAF air superiority, the neutral zone’s durability is uncertain. President Kiir’s mediation efforts could pave peace paths, but unresolved revenue disputes and Kordofan battles threaten escalation.
Juba Global News Network will continue monitoring this evolving story, vital to South Sudan’s stability and regional energy security. For updates, visit JubaGlobal.com.
