South Sudan seizes control of embattled Heglig oilfield, says Ateny

JUBA – The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have assumed full security responsibility over the Heglig (Panthou) oil fields, following a series of military clashes inside Sudan that spilt across the border, Government spokesperson and Minister of Information, Ateny Wek Ateny, confirmed.

Ateny said the development followed intense fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which led to the defeat of the Sudanese national army, some of whom fled to South Sudan.

At a press conference in Juba on Thursday, Ateny said SAF, under Brig. Tariq Mokhtar of Brigade 90, Division 22, based in Babnusa, crossed into the Panakuach area of Unity State, where they immediately surrendered their weapons to the SSPDF in accordance with international law.

“So, the SAF units that entered into the Republic of South Sudan, as required by international law, have surrendered their weapons to the SSPDF, the SSPDF that were in the area to protect the oil fields and also protect our international borders,” Ateny said.

“There was no hostility, so the forces that entered South Sudan are safe, and they are now being arranged to be taken back to their country,” he added

Following the cross-border incident, a tripartite agreement was reached between the SSPDF, SAF, and RSF, effectively granting the SSPDF primary and full security responsibility over the Heglig oil fields, a strategic site long contested in Sudan’s internal conflict.

Ateny credited President Salva Kiir for personally intervening and speaking by phone with Sudan’s rival leaders—Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Daglo—to de-escalate tensions and prevent the fighting from spreading into the oil-rich area.

“So, the President of the Republic of South Sudan wanted all these parties, the parties in war in Sudan, to ensure that they are not fighting along the oil fields,” he stressed.

He said RSF forces have since withdrawn northward to allow South Sudan to secure the fields.

Mysterious Drone Strike Kills 7 SSPDF Soldiers

Ateny also revealed that an unidentified drone carried out a deadly strike in the area, killing seven SSPDF soldiers guarding the border and oil installations.

Six of the victims have been identified, while one body was burned beyond recognition.

“Those seven, one was not completely identified simply because he was banned beyond recognition, but the six of them have their name, and their families will be informed accordingly and later on their names will be actually released to the media,” he stated.

“But in the meantime, we have lost seven members of the National Security Forces, and one is not known up to now, simply because he was burned completely,” Ateny added.

Communities in Bentiu, Pan Akuach, and the Ruweng Administrative Area—those closest to the conflict zone—were urged to remain calm.

Ateny emphasised that the agreement reached by SSPDF, SAF, and RSF leaders means no further fighting is expected near South Sudan’s border or around the oil fields.

He also cautioned the public against misinformation circulating on social media.

“So we urge our citizens not to rely also on an unofficial statement because I know the social media nowadays and since the start of Facebook, Instagram and all the other social media platforms, some have been using them to incite, some have been using those media platforms to spread unfounded news,”

“I appeal to journalists to uphold professional ethics and verify their information before publishing. Many platforms now spread unfounded and inciting messages,” Ateny warned.

South Sudan reiterated its longstanding position calling for a diplomatic end to Sudan’s war, saying renewed hostilities continue to displace civilians and impact South Sudanese communities hosting those fleeing the violence.