South Sudan army receives fleeing Sudanese troops, eyes control of Heglig oilfield
December 8, 2025 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s military has disarmed and taken in Sudanese soldiers fleeing the contested Heglig oilfield and intends to assume control of the area from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a senior general said on Monday.
The RSF claimed control of Heglig, a strategic hub in Sudan’s West Kordofan state, earlier on Monday after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) abandoned their defensive positions.
Following the takeover, Youssef Aliyan, head of the West Kordofan Civil Administration, announced the deployment of a specialized force, established in coordination with RSF leadership, to secure the oilfield. Citing emergency laws, Aliyan issued a decree banning unauthorized armed groups and removing informal checkpoints, warning that the force would use “legitimate means” to enforce the measures.
Aliyan further stated that his administration was coordinating security and community peace efforts with officials in South Sudan’s neighbouring Unity State to maintain stability along the border.
However, Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony, South Sudan’s Deputy Chief of Defence Forces for Mobilisation and Disarmament, told reporters in Akuach that the SSPDF intends to assume control of Heglig from the RSF to prioritize regional stability.
Speaking on the arrival of Sudanese troops, Olony confirmed that the retreating soldiers had surrendered their weapons to the SSPDF upon crossing the border.
“We received them because they are our brothers,” Olony said, noting that the soldiers arrived with logistics and equipment but were disarmed. He added that the reception was directed by President Salva Kiir following consultations with Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The SSPDF separately issued a statement assuring that oil facilities and fields within South Sudan remain secure and are operating at normal capacity.
This marks the second significant influx of Sudanese military personnel into South Sudan. In July 2024, soldiers fled across the border after the RSF captured the town of Al-Meiram.