Hundreds of Sudanese army soldiers flee into South Sudan after RSF captures Heglig

BENTIU – Hundreds of Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers crossed into South Sudan’s Unity State on Monday after abandoning their positions in Heglig oil fields, which was captured by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Monday.

South Sudanese officials in Unity State reported that the soldiers arrived in Pan Akuach, a remote border area, after fleeing the RSF advance on Heglig.

A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the troops crossed the frontier with their weapons and their vehicles. He said the weapons have been put away by the South Sudan army for security reasons.

“They entered our territory seeking safety. They arrived with their weapons. For their own security and of South Sudan, we have put their weapons and vehicles away,” the official said. “They are being held in a secure location while their status is assessed.”

The incident is one of the largest cross-border military flights since Sudan’s conflict escalated in 2023 and follows a familiar pattern. Last year, soldiers from SAF’s 92^nd Infantry Brigade in Al-Meiram crossed into South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State after RSF fighters overran their base in Meiram.

Heglig, located along the disputed Sudan–South Sudan border, is the main transit route for South Sudan’s crude oil exports to Port Sudan.

Its capture has raised concerns in Juba over potential disruptions to oil flows, which form the backbone of South Sudan’s economy. Any prolonged instability in the area could further strain the country’s fragile financial situation.

The RSF said on Monday it had taken full control of the Heglig oil zone after SAF units withdrew. Videos reviewed by Sudans Post showed RSF fighters inside the Sudanese army’s 90^th Infantry Brigade headquarters and standing beside abandoned military equipment.

Additional images obtained by reporters appeared to show RSF personnel briefly entering the Pan Akuach area on the South Sudanese side of the border as well as SAF soldiers resting in Pan Akuach after crossing into South Sudan.

The Sudanese army has not issued a public statement regarding the retreat or the status of its soldiers now inside South Sudan.

South Sudanese authorities said there was no confrontation between the RSF and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF). They confirmed that RSF units approached the border but later withdrew back into Sudanese territory.