Oil tankers stranded at the border of South Sudan following the war. Photo/AP
By Daisy Okiring
Thursday, November 6, 2025
The United Nations has raised the alarm over the growing impact of Sudan’s civil war on neighboring South Sudan, warning that the conflict is destabilizing border areas, crippling oil exports, and worsening humanitarian conditions.
UN Deputy Special Representative for South Sudan, Guang Cong, told the Security Council on Wednesday that fighting between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is spreading across the border, undermining peace and economic stability in South Sudan.
“The conflict in Sudan continues to impact the security situation in South Sudan with cross-border movements of armed groups on both sides,” Cong said.
He reported that drone attacks by RSF on key oil facilities near the border — including Port Sudan and Heglig — have led to oil spills, shutdowns, and environmental damage, shrinking South Sudan’s oil-dependent economy by nearly 25 percent.
Economic and humanitarian toll
Oil exports account for over 90 percent of South Sudan’s revenue, most of which passes through Sudan’s pipelines to the Red Sea. The disruption has forced Juba to scale down public spending, halt infrastructure projects, and cut essential imports, worsening living conditions.
UN data shows that at least 41,000 people fleeing the war in Sudan have crossed into the disputed Abyei region. The sudden influx has strained local communities already struggling with food, water, and healthcare shortages.
Cong described the situation as a “double crisis,” noting that while conflict destroys livelihoods in Sudan, the spillover is collapsing fragile systems in South Sudan. “Bilateral engagement between Sudan and South Sudan on the final status of Abyei has been at a low point since the start of the war,” he added.
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Mounting insecurity in border zones
The UN expressed growing concern over the presence of RSF fighters in northern Abyei, warning that their activities breach peace agreements and threaten renewed clashes between border militias. Illegal checkpoints have also emerged along major transport routes, restricting humanitarian movement.
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, echoed these concerns. She called for the immediate withdrawal of all armed actors from Abyei to preserve its weapon-free status.
“I reiterate the call for the immediate withdrawal of all armed forces and other armed actors from Abyei,” Pobee said, warning that looming funding cuts to the UN peacekeeping mission could weaken stability efforts.
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UN funding strain and global inaction
According to Pobee, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) faces a 15 percent budget reduction, which could limit its ability to monitor ceasefire violations and protect civilians.
She urged the international community to maintain support for peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts in both Sudan and South Sudan. “Without sustained global action,” she warned, “the conflict risks expanding into a regional crisis.”
Analysts note that the prolonged instability has also disrupted regional trade, with border closures affecting food and fuel supplies across East Africa.
As the war enters its third year, more than 15,000 people have been killed and over 10 million displaced across Sudan. Humanitarian agencies estimate that nearly 2 million have fled to neighboring countries, including Chad, Ethiopia, Egypt, and South Sudan.
The UN says the situation now represents one of the fastest-growing displacement crises in the world — yet funding for aid operations remains dangerously low.
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