Sudan, South Sudan diplomatic crisis escalates over violence against nationals

February 5, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – A diplomatic crisis between Sudan and South Sudan intensified on Wednesday, marked by rising tensions and a war of words between their foreign ministries. Sudan accused Juba of fuelling violence against Sudanese citizens in South Sudan.

This week, Sudanese authorities evacuated over 800 nationals from South Sudan after 16 Sudanese refugees were killed in apparent retaliatory attacks. The violence followed allegations that South Sudanese civilians were killed in Wad Madani after the Sudanese army retook the city on January 11.

South Sudan’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Tuesday, calling on the UN Security Council and the African Union to support a “credible investigation into the Wad Madani killings.”

Sudan’s foreign ministry responded on Wednesday, dismissing Juba’s claims as “exaggerated” and accusing them of “inciting further violence against Sudanese in South Sudan” by raising the issue of “horrific massacres” in Wad Madani.

The ministry asserted that this “incitement” followed the deaths of 16 Sudanese in South Sudan and the looting of their property, which it attributed to “false claims.” It also accused Juba of ignoring “heinous crimes” committed against Sudanese refugees in South Sudan.

Juba further condemned comments made on January 20 by a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and a senior army official, General Yasir al-Atta, who stated that South Sudanese nationals make up 65% of the RSF’s fighting force. South Sudan’s foreign ministry described this claim as “false and dangerous.”

It acknowledged that some South Sudanese citizens may have joined the RSF, particularly those affiliated with opposition groups like the one led by General Stephen Buay, which it said are not under the control of the South Sudanese government.

Sudan’s foreign ministry cited reports from UN Security Council experts, other organizations that documented support flowing to the RSF through South Sudan.

For its part, South Sudan’s foreign ministry accused the Sudanese army of recruiting South Sudanese nationals to fight in Yemen. It also claimed that numerous groups recruited by the Sudanese army are fighting alongside it.