By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Sudan, 8 December 2025 - Sudan’s fragile oil-dependent economy suffered another devastating blow on Monday after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the Heglig oilfield, the country’s largest and a lifeline for both Sudan and neighbouring South Sudan.
The capture triggered an immediate shutdown of operations and the evacuation of oil workers, who were escorted across the border into South Sudan’s Unity State.Speaking from the evacuation point, a Sudanese engineer described a chaotic scramble to shut down equipment as RSF fighters closed in. “We powered down everything and left as quickly as we could. Most of this oil belongs to South Sudan, so the government in Juba now faces a serious crisis,” he said.
Heglig is not just another oil site. It is the central processing hub for almost all of South Sudan’s exports, which account for over 90 per cent of its national revenue. The pipeline that channels this crude to Port Sudan is also a crucial source of income for Khartoum. With operations suspended indefinitely, both countries face fresh financial uncertainty.
The RSF declared the takeover a “pivotal milestone”, claiming its forces moved in to protect the installations from sabotage. The Sudanese Armed Forces later confirmed they had withdrawn from the area, saying the move was intended to avoid damage to critical energy infrastructure.
The fall of Heglig marks a significant shift in a war that has already killed tens of thousands and uprooted more than 12 million people. After overpowering the army in Darfur earlier this year, the RSF has pushed deeper into the vast Kordofan region, an area rich in oil, gold, and farmland. Control of Kordofan could open a corridor towards the capital, Khartoum, a prospect that is heightening fears of further escalation.
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The takeover comes days after a deadly drone strike in South Kordofan hit a kindergarten and a hospital, killing at least 114 people, including 63 children. The World Health Organisation condemned the attack as “senseless”, while medics reported that even rescue workers came under fire.
Adding to the turmoil, China’s National Petroleum Corporation, Sudan’s long-standing partner in the oil sector, has signalled plans to withdraw from the country, citing the worsening security situation.
With oilfields falling silent and millions displaced, Sudan’s war is tightening its grip on the region, leaving livelihoods, economies, and futures in peril.
