South Sudan denies backing either side in Sudan conflict

August 16, 2024 (Juba) – South Sudan on Friday denied supporting any group involved in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, warning that any such involvement could spark a wider regional war.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) hired South Sudanese nationals from certain ethnic groups as mercenaries. This led the Sudanese military to implicate senior South Sudanese government officials who had ethnic ties to the mercenaries and had operational links to the RSF.

South Sudanese officials have denied the allegations and stressed efforts by President Salva Kiir and his government to mediate a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

South Sudan’s minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation and the president’s national security adviser said the accusations were a deliberate attempt by extremists to undermine peace efforts and sow discord between the two countries.

“This is not true and we have clarified it through proper diplomatic channels,” said Minister Ramadan Mohammed Abdullah Goch. “The government uses official mechanisms, not the media, to deal with these baseless allegations.”

The Minister stressed the existing cordial relations and cooperation with the Transitional Sovereign Council, as well as the efforts made to mediate a humanitarian ceasefire between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North and the Sudanese army.

Tut Gatluak, South Sudan’s presidential adviser on national security affairs, said the perception that the government was supporting one side in Sudan’s conflict was “deplorable,” adding that it was not in the interest of the country or its leaders.

Gatluyak expressed optimism that Sudan’s leadership has the ability to de-escalate the situation rather than blaming regional friends and countries that are truly working for peace.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but the country remains economically linked to Sudan, with its oil exported to international markets through Sudan. Many South Sudanese also remain in Sudan, with some returning during South Sudan’s conflict.