Sudan – South Sudan Border War The Sudan – South Sudan Border War , or the Heglig Crisis , was an armed conflict between the states of Sudan and the South Sudan in 2012 over oil - rich regions between the South Sudan ' s Unity and Sudan ' s South Kordofan . South Sudan invaded and briefly occupied the small border town of Heglig before being pushed back by the Sudanese army . Small - scale clashes continued until an agreement on borders and natural resources was signed on September 26 , resolving most aspects of the conflict . Background . South Sudan ' s independence was preceded by two civil wars , from 1955 to 1972 and from 1983 to 2005 , in which 2 . 5 million people were killed and more than 5 million externally displaced . Relations between the two states have been marked by conflict over the Greater Nile Oil Pipeline and the disputed region of Abyei , even though Sudan was the first state to recognise South Sudan . In January 2012 , South Sudan shut down all of its oil fields in a row over the fees Sudan demanded to transit the oil . In May 2011 , it was reported that Sudan had seized control of Abyei , a disputed oil - rich border region , with a force of approximately 5 , 000 soldiers after three days of clashes with South Sudanese forces . The precipitating factor was an ambush by the South killing 22 northern soldiers . The northern advance included shelling , aerial bombardment and numerous tanks . Initial reports indicated that over 20 , 000 people fled . The interim South Sudanese government declared this as an " act of war , " and the United Nations sent an envoy to Khartoum , the Sudanese capital , to intervene . South Sudan says it has withdrawn its forces from Abyei . A deal on militarization was reached on 20 June 2011 . The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei , consisting of Ethiopian troops were deployed under a UNSC resolution from 27 June 2011 . In early December 2011 , Jau , a town in Unity state in South Sudan , was occupied by Sudanese forces . In early March 2012 , the Sudanese Air Force bombed parts of Pariang county . Both countries accuse the other of supporting rebels on their soil as part of the ongoing internal conflict in Sudan and in South Sudan . Events . 26 – 28 March South Sudanese repulsed from Heglig . On 26 March , the Republic of Sudan claimed that South Sudan attacked the Heglig oilfield ( called Panthou by South Sudan ) , located in the Sudanese state of South Kordofan , while South Sudan claims it was acting in self - defence after an attack on its territory . The following day , 27 March , the Sudanese Air Force launched a bombing raid on the Unity oilfield in the South Sudanese state of Unity , located to the north of the state capital , Bentiu . The Sudanese Army later attacked the disputed areas of Jau , Pan Akuach , and Teshwin , but were repelled by the South Sudanese Sudan People ' s Liberation Army . South Sudanese artillery positions 20 kilometres north of Bentiu , which had been involved in the shelling of Heglig , were bombarded by artillery from the northern side of the border . The Republic of Sudan ' s Information Minister , Abdallah Ali Masar , confirmed that South Sudanese had penetrated 10 km into Sudanese territory , but also claimed that Sudanese forces had repelled them and driven them back , and had taken several prisoners . South Sudanese troops were ordered by their government to disengage and withdraw from the disputed area on 28 March . Dead bodies and destroyed vehicles lay strewn in Heglig , the oilfield which was the site of bloody battles . Three bodies were identified as Southern Sudanese soldiers , while a tank as well as 4 pickup trucks were destroyed . On 31 March , Sudanese warplanes bombed the Southern forces positions on the border , although officials from the north said it was artillery , not aircraft involved in the attack . Early April : South Sudanese capture Heglig . South Sudan claimed to have shot down a Sudanese MiG - 29 warplane on 4 April over Unity state in South Sudan . The air raids reportedly took place near Heglig and forced an " Al Jazeera " camera crew to take cover , as Sudanese planes bombed an oil pipeline . The bombing did not apparently lead to any casualties or significant damage . The Sudanese government denied any bombing from the air had taken place and called the accusations " fabrications " by South Sudan . The South Sudanese town of Teshwin , according to the South Sudanese armed forces , was shelled with artillery and warplanes by Sudan on 9 April . The town of Abiemnhom in Unity state was reportedly attacked by two brigades from the Sudanese army , which the South claimed was an attempt to seize its oil fields . At least four civilians were injured in the clashes , although there were no immediate reports of military casualties on either side . The South ' s government said that northern forces had breached the border accompanied by militias , but had been repelled . A Sudanese military spokesman later admitted that the Sudanese army had been defeated during a battle at Heglig and forced to retreat northwards . There were some reports that the fighting had broken out after Sudanese forces attempted to retake a border post lost to Southern forces two weeks previous . Colonel Khalid Sawarmi , spokesman for the Sudanese army , claimed that the Southern forces had taken control of the Heglig oil fields and the town of Heglig itself , given South Sudan victory in the Battle of Heglig . The Sudanese government said on 11 April that heavy fighting continued along the disputed border areas and the Sudanese army was reported to be trying to retake Heglig . Sudan announced they would use all legitimate means to retake the Heglig oil fields that fell to South Sudan the previous day . South Sudan said that they were holding defensive positions in Heglig , awaiting a Sudanese counterattack . The parliaments of both countries called for a mobilisation of their respective armed forces . Sudan also began a general mobilisation of its armed forces as South Sudanese forces penetrated as far north as 70 kilometres into Sudanese territory , according to Rahmatullah Mohamed Osman , Under Secretary for the Foreign Ministry of Sudan . After Heglig fell , the government in Khartoum said its forces had made a tactical retreat to Kharasanah , and despite having put up strong resistance , had been unable to overcome the " huge , well equipped forces " that had attacked the area . Sudanese forces were reported to be regrouping and preparing to try and retake Heglig . The Sudanese Revolutionary Front rebel group attacked the Sudanese army in Karshanah , where they had retreated following clashes by the South Sudanese Army . Vice President Al - Haj Adam of Sudan formally declared that a state of war existed between the two countries late on 11 April and declared that all negotiations between the two states were on hold . The next day , the Sudanese Air Force bombed Bentiu , the capital of Unity State , in an attempt to destroy a strategic bridge using an Antonov An - 26 transport plane converted into an improvised bomber , killing one South Sudanese soldier . Mid - April : Sudanese counter offensive . South Sudanese forces began reinforcing their positions in Heglig on 13 April , whilst Sudan continued to mobilise its own forces . According to the South Sudanese government , the frontlines had remained static during the day . Sudanese forces claimed to be advancing on Heglig and that the situation would be dealt with " within hours . " A spokesman of the Sudanese government said that its army was on the outskirts of Heglig , while South Sudan ' s government said that it would defend themselves if attacked . The Sudanese government spokesman also added that South Sudan failed to control " all of South Kordofan state . " During Friday prayers on 13 April in Sudan , some sermons were reportedly hostile towards South Sudan , while television broadcasts included allegedly " jihadi ' and patriotic songs . South Sudan ' s Vice President Reik Machar said a Sudanese attempt to retake Heglig by force was halted 30 km north of the town . South Sudan claimed to have destroyed two tanks during the clashes . The Sudanese air force , operating two Sukhoi Su - 25 jets , reportedly bombed Jau and Panakuach , as well as Heglig once again , killing five civilians . On 14 April , South Sudanese forces continued to advance northwards , and repelled a Sudanese counterattack on Kersanah . Southern troops moved to close all three roads to Heglig on 14 April . It was also reported that most facilities in Heglig had been damaged during the fighting . Two MiG - 29 ' s from the Sudanese Air Force swooped in low over Bentiu the same day in an attempt to destroy a bridge . The bombs narrowly missed their target and ended up killing four civilians and a soldier and wounding five others . The attack was widely believed to be an attempt to damage South Sudanese supply lines . Sudanese army units were reported to have reached a few kilometres from Heglig and that they were fighting with South Sudanese forces . The immediate objective was to " destroy the South ' s war machine " , rather than enter Heglig itself . South Sudan disputed the north ' s version of events as propaganda , claiming that northern forces were still 30 kilometres ( 19 miles ) from Heglig . On 15 April , the Sudan People ' s Liberation Army spokesman Philip Aguer claimed that after overnight clashes in Kelet South Sudan held on to its positions and destroyed two Sudanese tanks . Sudan shelled the western part of South Sudan ' s Upper Nile state during 15 April , in an apparent attempt to open up a new front . Sudanese troops crossed the border into South Sudan ' s Upper Nile state and briefly occupied the small town of Kuek , before being expelled by South Sudan ' s army . On 16 April , Sudan ' s parliament met and voted unanimously to declare that " South Sudan is an enemy of all Sudanese state agencies " . The parliamentary speaker called for Sudan to mobilise all its resources to fight South Sudan and topple their government . Rabie Abdelaty , a spokesman for the Khartoum government , ruled out peace talks with the South , saying it would hurt national pride if Sudan did not take back Heglig by force . On 18 April , a new front opened up in the conflict , 100 miles ( 160 km ) west of Heglig , resulting in seven South Sudanese soldiers and 15 Sudanese soldiers being killed . The clash was reportedly sparked when a South Sudanese soldier was shot dead when collecting water near the road between Aweil and Meiram . Late April : Sudan regains control over Heglig . On 22 April , Sudanese army entered Heglig oil field . Afterwards , Sudanese president Omar al - Bashir held a victory rally in Khartoum . On 22 April , more fighting broke out along the whole border as Sudanese soldiers backed by tanks and artillery launched three waves of attacks six miles deep inside South Sudan . At least one South Sudanese soldier was killed and two wounded in the attack . Sudan bombed the town of Rubkona on 23 April , damaging several market stalls , in an attempt to destroy a bridge between Rubkona and neighbouring Bentiu . At least three people were killed in the raid . The following day , Kiir stated on a visit to China that Sudan had " declared war " on South Sudan . At the end , both sides were standing where they stood when the fighting broke out , with neither side clearly gaining the upper hand . Eventually , ground fighting subsided , and although the conflict continued with isolated border skirmishes and limited Sudanese airstrikes against South Sudan , things ultimately settled down . On 26 September , an agreement was reached about borders , natural resources and security , finally ending the crisis . Weapons . The Sudanese Army is equipped with predominantly Chinese and Soviet - made weapons while Armed Forces of South Sudan weapons vary , having few vehicles and mostly small arms . The following table should not be considered exhaustive . Negotiations . In a meeting with Egypt ' s foreign minister on 15 April , Mohamed Kamel Amr , who had arrived in Khartoum to try and contain tensions , Omar Bashir ruled out any negotiations with South Sudan until the Southern forces vacated Heglig . According to mediator Thabo Mbeki , as of 22 May , both Sudans said they were ready to return to the negotiating table . Resolution . The two parties recommenced negotiations in June 2012 under mediation by the African Union ' s envoy Thabo Mbeki . On 27 September , Sudanese President Omar al - Bashir and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir signed eight agreements in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , which led the way to resume important oil exports and create a six - mile demilitarised zone along their border . The agreements allows for the return of 350 , 000 barrels of South Sudanese oil to the world market . In addition , the agreements include an understanding on the parameters to follow in regards to demarcating their border , an economic - cooperation agreement and a deal to protect each other ' s citizens . Certain issues remain unsolved and future talks are scheduled to resolve them . At the same time as the ongoing General debate of the sixty - seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly on the same day , South Sudan was scheduled to speak . Vice President Riek Machar outlined what agreements were signed , but lamented the lack of a resolution on Abyei . United Nations Secretary - General Ban Ki - moon commended the two leaders on reaching an agreement . Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn also praised the outcome and hoped it would build momentum . In mid - March 2013 , both countries began to withdraw their forces from the border area in a bit to creating a demilitarised buffer zone and resume South Sudanese oil production for export through Sudan . In early April South Sudanese oil started to flow through pipelines in Sudan again . Though Sudanese President Omar al - Bashir threatened to cut oil transit through his country from South Sudan , South Sudanese President Salvar Kiir accused him of mobilising for war and said that he would not go to war over the oil transit issue . In October 2013 , al - Bashir visited Juba to discuss the measures with Kiir . He was warmly welcomed and said that progress had been made . Kiir for his part said that he was looking to mend relations with Sudan . Humanitarian situation . The conflict had , by 14 April , forced over 100 , 000 people to flee their homes . Responses . Domestic response in Sudan . Sudanese national radio announced that the President of Sudan , Omar al - Bashir , would suspend his planned visit to the South Sudanese capital , Juba , as a result of the conflict . A summit between the leaders of the two countries had been planned to be held in Juba some time in April 2012 , following on from the meeting of the political , military , and security committee of the African Union on 30 March in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia . A meeting between South Sudan and Sudan on the subject of the disputed region of Abyei scheduled to have been held on 22 March had previously been postponed by Sudan . Vice President Al - Haj Adam of Sudan formally declared that a state of war existed between the two countries late on 11 April and declared that all negotiations between the two states were on hold . On 16 April , Sudan ' s parliament met and voted unanimously to declare that " South Sudan is an enemy of all Sudanese state agencies " The parliamentary speaker called for Sudan to mobilise all its resources to fight South Sudan and topple their government . Rabie Abdelaty , a spokesman for the Khartoum government , ruled out peace talks with the south , saying it would hurt national pride if Sudan did not take back Heglig by force . Sudan began a general mobilisation of its armed forces as South Sudanese forces penetrated as far north as 70 kilometres into Sudanese territory , according to Rahmatullah Mohamed Osman , Under Secretary for the Foreign Ministry . During Friday prayers on 13 April in Sudan , some sermons were reportedly hostile towards South Sudan , while television broadcasts included allegedly " jihadi ' and patriotic songs . Following South Sudan ' s withdrawal from Heglig , President Omar al - Bashir declared that there would be no negotiations with the " poisonous insects " ( i . e . the South Sudanese ) . Later on , Bashir argued that the South Sudanese only understand the " language of guns and ammunition . " Sudan ' s UN ambassador , Daffa - Alla Elhag Ali Osman , argued that Sudan had the right to act in self - defense because " We have been targeted by . . . the South " , adding that " Let me make it clear : We will not cross the international border and attack the South . . . inside their territories " . Domestic response in South Sudan . The President of South Sudan , Salva Kiir , suggested that the Republic of Sudan was responsible for initiating the conflict , and that further clashes could lead to war : " This morning [ the Sudanese ] air force came and bombed areas in Unity state . After this intensive bombardment our forces were attacked by [ the Sudanese military ] and militia . " It is a war that has been imposed on us again , but it is [ the Sudanese ] who are looking for it . " The spokesman for the South Sudanese military suggested that the conflict was " the biggest confrontation since independence " . Parliamentary Speaker called on people to prepare for war : " Khartoum might be meaning a real war . . . if you don ' t defend yourself , you will be finished , so you should go and mobilise the people on [ the ] ground to be ready " Parliament later decided to raise military spending and bolster the army by cutting salaries of all deputies by 10 % for three months . Fuel supplies began to run out in some filling stations in Juba around 15 April as huge queues of motorists tried to fill up as panic buying set in . On 27 March , a spokesman for Ban Ki - moon , the Secretary - General of the United Nations , called for the two countries to end the conflict and " utilise to the fullest extent existing political and security mechanisms to peacefully address their differences " . On 23 April 2012 , Ban Ki - moon condemned Sudan ' s bombing of border areas in South Sudan , demanding Khartoum cease all hostilities " as a matter of urgency " . On 15 April 2012 , the Arab Parliament called on South Sudan for restraint and to withdraw from the town of Heglig . A statement signed by Arab Parliament head Salem Deqbasi said that the Arab Parliament ' s bureau called on South Sudan to " heed the voice of reason " and immediately pull its forces out of the areas it had occupied inside Sudanese territory , including Heglig . On 26 April , the Arab League escalated its rhetoric , condemning South Sudan ' s " aggression " and saying Heglig belongs to Sudan . The Arab League went further to say it supported Sudan ' s " right to defend itself " , and condemned South Sudan ' s alleged support of rebels in Sudan . On 25 April 2012 , the African Union condemned Sudan ' s bombing of parts of South Sudan , and called on both sides to cease all hostilities . The Peace and Security Council also put forth a 7 - point roadmap in which the two sides would be given two weeks to restart negotiations . The AU urged both sides to refrain from " inflammatory statements and propaganda that could fuel the conflict " . International reactions . On 15 April 2012 , according to IRIB World Service , an Iran Broadcasting channel , Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that Iran fully monitors the developments in the region , and calls on South Sudan to immediately and unconditionally pull back its forces and return to its territory behind the designated borders . In March an Iranian surveillance drone crashed in Sudan after being fired upon by South Sudanese - backed rebels . On 27 March 2012 , the President of Kenya , Mwai Kibaki , suggested that Kenya could mediate between the two countries , stating " Kenya is keen on good and stable relations between the two countries " . On 6 May 2012 , Africa Minister Henry Bellingham supported the African Union - led initiative , calling for both sides to restart negotiations and comply with the ceasefire . On 11 April 2012 , the US State Department condemned South Sudan ' s seizure of Heglig and in statement said " We condemn South Sudan ' s military involvement in the attack on and seizure of Heglig , an act which goes beyond self - defense and has increased tensions between Sudan and South Sudan to dangerous levels . " Later on , however , the US took a different tone , condemning Khartoum ' s bombardment of South Sudanese territory and " military incursion into South Sudan " . To South Sudan , the US release recognized the " right of South Sudan to self - defense " , but urged " restraint in its reaction to Sudan ’ s attack in Unity State " . The US welcomed the South Sudanese withdrawal from Heglig and called for all South Sudanese troops to be withdrawn from areas across the 1 January 1956 border . In his message to the Sudanese and South Sudanese people , President Obama reiterated that " All those who are fighting must recognize that there is no military solution . " On 22 September 2012 , Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi calls for " concerned parties to abide by the international law and signed agreements , to restrain themselves and keep tensions from escalating while working on resolving disagreements by peaceful negotiations , " On 21 April 2012 , Yemen condemned South Sudan ' s occupation of Heglig , called for both parties to give diplomatic efforts a chance , and argued both sides should " establish ties enhancing the mutual confidence and building on the bonds of common history and human relations between the two countries . "