Clarion Newschannel – JUBA, South Sudan (December 20, 2025) – Dozens of people were killed in a drone strike on Sudan’s largest oil processing facility in Heglig, carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), according to statements from the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The attack occurred on the evening of December 9, just one day after the RSF seized control of the strategically vital Heglig oil field in South Kordofan, near the border with South Sudan. The RSF reported that the strike killed and injured dozens of engineers, workers, local administration leaders, RSF fighters, and South Sudanese security personnel, while also damaging critical infrastructure. One eyewitness account from a South Sudanese soldier estimated around 25 deaths, though exact figures remain unconfirmed.
The SAF has not issued an official comment on the allegations, but two Sudanese military officials confirmed to reporters that a drone operation targeted RSF positions in the area. The strike reportedly involved a Turkish-made Akinci drone.
Among the casualties were at least three South Sudanese soldiers, as confirmed by the government of South Sudan’s Unity State. The Heglig facility is not only Sudan’s primary oil processing hub but also serves as the main pipeline route for exporting South Sudan’s oil to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, making it an economic lifeline for both nations. Disruptions from the ongoing conflict have repeatedly hampered production, exacerbating South Sudan’s economic challenges.
In the wake of the RSF’s capture of Heglig on December 8 – achieved without major resistance as SAF units and oil workers evacuated – South Sudanese forces deployed to the site under a tripartite agreement involving both Sudanese warring parties. The move aims to neutralize the area and protect the facilities from further damage, with South Sudan maintaining neutrality despite accusations of leaning toward the RSF.
The incident marks the latest escalation in Sudan’s civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the SAF and RSF. The conflict has claimed an estimated 150,000 lives, displaced millions, and triggered widespread famine conditions. The RSF’s recent territorial gains, including Heglig and earlier captures in Darfur, have shifted momentum in the protracted fighting.
Analysts note that control of Heglig could provide the RSF with significant leverage, though the opaque management of oil revenues complicates immediate economic impacts for all involved parties. South Sudan continues to insist on its neutral stance amid the spillover effects of the war.
Deadly Drone Strike Hits Key Sudanese Oil Field Amid Escalating Civil War
