The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in open warfare against the Sudanese army since April 2023, announced the takeover of Sudan's largest oil site , located in the strategic South Kordofan region, on Monday, December 8, 2025. This area is the epicenter of deadly clashes.

The capture of Heglig and its implications

In a statement released on Telegram, the FSR declared they had taken control of the strategic area of Heglig following the "flight of the army", describing this victory as a "turning point for the liberation of the entire country" due to its "economic importance".

A military source, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, confirmed the troop withdrawal, explaining that the decision was aimed at "protecting oil installations and avoiding damage".

Heglig is located in the far south of Kordofan, a region that became central to the conflict after the complete takeover of Darfur (west) by the RSF in October.

According to analysts, the FSR offensive in Kordofan aims to break through the army's last lines around central Sudan in order to reposition itself for the recapture of the capital, Khartoum, and other strategic cities.

A devastating conflict and strengthened alliances

Since the start of the war two and a half years ago, the conflict has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people, the displacement of 12 million inhabitants, and the devastation of infrastructure in this East African country.

The FSR recently consolidated its position by allying itself with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) . This partnership strengthened its forces and its hold on the Nuba Mountains and parts of Blue Nile State, near Ethiopia, historically controlled by the SPLM-N.

The SPLM-N asserted that the capture of the besieged towns of Kadugli and Dilling in Kordofan was now only a "matter of time." It urged the army to withdraw to avoid bloody fighting and allow for the opening of humanitarian corridors.

Impact on production and concerns

The situation is complicated by failing communications and contradictory announcements from the warring parties, making independent verification of the facts difficult.

1. Production halted: Operations at the Heglig site had already been suspended in August following drone strikes attributed to the FSR by the army. On Monday, an engineer confirmed that the technical teams had "stopped production" and that the workers had been evacuated to neighboring South Sudan.
2. FSR Commitment: The political wing of the FSR has nevertheless committed to "fully securing all oil installations" and to guaranteeing continuity of production by ensuring that engineers and workers can work "without hindrance".
3. Economic "disaster": For former oil minister Gadein Ali Obeid, the capture is a "disaster." He told AFP that the country has now "lost its two main oil-producing regions, Heglig and Block 6," the latter being a site operated by China that is already shut down.

The loss of Heglig is also a blow to South Sudan , as the site houses its main oil processing facility for export since its secession in 2011.

Alarming human toll

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a new toll from the drone strikes attributed to the SRF, which occurred on December 4 against a kindergarten and a hospital in Kalogi, in the same Kordofan region. The death toll stands at 114, including 63 children .

The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, strongly condemned these "senseless" bombings of X.

International efforts to secure a ceasefire remain fruitless, with both sides seeking to consolidate their advantage on the ground before any negotiations. Analysts fear that continued warfare could ultimately lead to a new partition of the country, with the army controlling the north, east, and center, while the FSR and its allies hold the west and large areas of the south.