South Sudan’s army began deploying to secure the Heglig oilfield on Wednesday following what its military described as a three-way arrangement with Sudan’s rival factions to protect critical energy infrastructure, Sudan Tribune has reported.

The deployment follows the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) seizure of the strategic town on December 8, prompting Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) units to abandon their positions and retreat across the border into South Sudan, where they were subsequently disarmed. Control of the wider Heglig area remains fluid and has not been independently verified, and neither SAF nor RSF leadership has publicly confirmed commitments to withdraw forces.

South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) Chief of Staff Paul Nang told reporters in Heglig that the move was authorised under what the SSPDF described as a “tripartite arrangement” involving President Salva Kiir, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemedti).

The claim has not been independently confirmed by either Sudanese faction. Nang said the intention was to ensure that neither SAF nor RSF personnel remained in the immediate vicinity of the field to reduce the risk of damage to installations. “The primary goal is to completely neutralise the Heglig field from any combat operations… because this field represents an economic lifeline not only for South Sudan but for Sudan as well,” he is quoted as saying.

The Heglig field has historically been operated under the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC) consortium, though formal oversight has been disrupted by conflict and shifting territorial control. The current production status could not be independently verified, and industry analysts note that insecurity and the absence of technical staff may have affected output. Neither Sudan’s energy ministry nor GNPOC has released recent operational data.

According to IMF and World Bank assessments, crude exports linked to Heglig and the associated transit fees remain among the few stable revenue sources available to both Sudan and South Sudan. Analysts warn that any renewed disruption risks echoing the 2012 shutdown, which triggered severe fiscal pressure on both governments and heightened regional tensions.

Diplomats say the SSPDF’s deployment reflects mounting pressure from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc of eight East African countries focused on conflict resolution, security cooperation, migration, and economic integration, and the African Union, which have urged Sudanese factions to avoid fighting around critical infrastructure.

Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda have warned that damage to oil facilities could destabilise border regions and undermine fragile regional security arrangements, especially as Sudan’s conflict continues to shift front lines.

Clashes around Heglig form part of a broader deterioration in Southern Kordofan, where displacement has surged and humanitarian access is severely restricted. Aid agencies caution that further fighting near energy infrastructure could deepen the crisis and obstruct already limited relief operations.

Security specialists note that although the SSPDF presence may reduce immediate risks, enforcing a neutral zone around the oilfield will be difficult as long as SAF and RSF positions remain highly mobile. Past attempts to demilitarise oil installations have collapsed when battlefield dynamics shifted, raising concerns that any agreement could unravel quickly.