South Sudan has strongly rejected allegations made by General Yasser Al-Atta, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), who claimed that 65% of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are South Sudanese nationals. The accusations have sparked diplomatic tension among neighboring countries.
Speaking to troops on January 20, 2025, General Al-Atta stated that Sudan had been in discussions with South Sudanese officials for two years regarding the alleged involvement of South Sudanese opposition figures fighting alongside the RSF. He cited Stephen Buoy as an example and criticized South Sudan for its supposed inaction.
However, during a press conference in Juba on March 24, Ambassador Apuk Ayuel Mayen, spokesperson for South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, dismissed these claims as “an absolute exaggeration.” She pointed out that many militia groups historically aligned with the Sudanese army were left out of General Al-Atta’s accusations.
“We wonder why General Al-Atta failed to mention them,” Ambassador Mayen remarked, highlighting the complexity of armed group affiliations in the region.
The South Sudanese government expressed deep concern that such statements could incite violence against South Sudanese nationals living in Sudan. This comes amid reports of atrocities against South Sudanese civilians in Al Jazira State, where several individuals were allegedly executed in public, drawing international condemnation.
Ambassador Mayen reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to regional peace and stability, emphasizing the country’s neutrality in Sudan’s ongoing conflict. She also underscored South Sudan’s role in providing refuge to over one million Sudanese fleeing the war.
South Sudan has urged regional and international partners, including the African Union and the United Nations, to intervene and prevent further escalation that could threaten peace and security in the region. The ambassador stressed that while South Sudan remains committed to diplomacy, the government will take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and citizens.
Meanwhile, Chad has condemned threats from Sudanese General Yasser Al-Atta, calling them a “declaration of war.” The Sudanese general had warned that Chad’s airports could become military targets, accusing the country of allowing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to use its airfields to supply weapons to the RSF.
In response, Chad’s foreign ministry issued a statement warning that it would retaliate if “a single square meter of Chadian territory is threatened.”
General Al-Atta made the remarks while addressing soldiers at a ceremony for an officer killed in an RSF drone strike. He claimed that airports in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, and the eastern city of Amdjarass were “legitimate targets” and vowed “retaliatory action” against the UAE, South Sudan, and Chad’s President Mahamat Déby.
The Sudanese army has repeatedly accused the UAE of backing the RSF in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
As tensions rise, South Sudan and Chad continue to call for diplomatic solutions while warning against any actions that could destabilize the region further.
