Sudan’s Sovereign Council President, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has instructed officials to engage with South Sudan on oil and energy matters after receiving a letter from President Salva Kiir.

The correspondence comes in the wake of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) being deployed to the Heglig oil field in West Kordofan on December 10. This deployment followed a tripartite agreement between Burhan, Kiir, and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo to secure the strategic site.

South Sudanese forces took control of the oil field two days after the RSF paramilitary group seized it. The Sudanese army withdrew across the border into South Sudan, where soldiers were disarmed.

Tut Gatluak, South Sudan’s presidential security advisor, delivered Kiir’s letter to Burhan in Port Sudan.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Muawiya Osman said that Burhan instructed relevant ministries to initiate talks with their Juba counterparts on energy, trade, economic cooperation, and political relations.

South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Mandi Semaya, described the message as reflecting “brotherly relations” and confirmed that technical meetings would be held to address shared concerns, particularly regarding the oil sector and investment opportunities.