South Sudan announced, on Thursday, 11 December, that it has secured a tripartite agreement with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to protect the Heglig oil field, after the RSF seized the site earlier in the week.
Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny said in Juba that the accord was reached between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, SAF and RSF as part of efforts to prevent further escalation. He noted that South Sudan has consistently pushed for a diplomatic solution to Sudan’s conflict since it erupted in April 2023 and is currently hosting SAF soldiers who retreated into Unity State following the RSF advance on Heglig.
Ateny expressed regret over renewed fighting, urging both parties to recommit to regional and international mediation efforts. He warned that ongoing hostilities continue to endanger lives, destroy property and drive more Sudanese civilians into South Sudan. The Heglig oil field, located in the Muglad Basin, is one of Sudan’s most critical oil-producing assets, housing roughly 75 wells as well as vital pipelines, storage facilities and processing stations. It also serves as a key transit point for crude transported from South Sudan to Port Sudan for export.
