El Geneina, December 10 (Darfur24)
Three soldiers from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) were killed in a drone strike on the Heglig oil field in West Kordofan, according to sources who spoke to Darfur24. The attack is believed to have been carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The sources said the South Sudanese government has notified authorities in Port Sudan of the deaths of its soldiers, who had been deployed inside the oil field under prior coordination between SAF and SSPDF to permit their presence in the area.
According to the sources, Juba informed the Sudanese side that it had reached arrangements with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) regarding protection of the Heglig oil field in the coming period.
No official statements have been released by either the Sudanese or South Sudanese governments about the incident or the nature of the reported security arrangements.
Meanwhile, a statement from Sudan’s Transitional Government Council of Ministers confirmed that the attack on the Heglig oil field resulted in civilian casualties, including South Sudanese nationals who were inside the facility at the time. It said the bombing targeted local civilian leaders and members of the Rapid Support Forces.