South Sudan army deploys to secure Heglig oilfield after deal with Sudan, RSF

December 10, 2025 (HEGLIG) – South Sudan’s army began deploying to secure the Heglig oilfield on Wednesday following a three-way deal between Juba and Sudan’s warring factions to protect vital energy infrastructure.

The deployment follows the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) seizure of the strategic town on Dec. 8, which forced the Sudanese army to abandon its defensive positions and withdraw across the border into South Sudan, where troops were disarmed.

South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) Chief of Staff Paul Nang told reporters in Heglig that the troops entered the area under a “tripartite agreement” involving President Salva Kiir, Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

Nang stated the deal requires the withdrawal of the Sudanese army and the exit of RSF troops from the area to ensure facilities remain unharmed.

“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,” Nang said.

He emphasized that South Sudanese forces would remain neutral and limit their mission strictly to protecting oil installations, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of crude.

Heglig houses a central processing facility for 130,000 barrels per day (bpd) of South Sudanese oil, which is exported through Sudan. The area also includes Block 6, Sudan’s largest producing field.

South Sudan resumed exports via Sudan in May after a nearly year-long suspension caused by fighting in the Kordofan and Darfur regions.

The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) recently decided to end its 30-year partnership in Sudan due to the deteriorating security in West Kordofan, where production plummeted from 65,000 bpd to 20,000 bpd following the outbreak of war in April.