RAJA COUNTY, South Sudan, Sept. 4, 2024 – The commissioner of Western Bahr el Ghazal State’s Raja County reported Tuesday that several payams along the border with Sudan have been overrun by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who are allegedly exploiting mineral resources, particularly gold.
The RSF, a Sudanese paramilitary group, and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) have been engaged in conflict since April 15, 2023.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj from Raja County, Commissioner Addison Arkangelo Musa said the RSF now controls areas including Radom, Kafia Kinji, Sungu, and Hofra Al Nahas. He explained that the RSF occupied these areas after pushing SAF forces out of their positions across the border in Sudan.
“You know that Kafia Kinji belongs to South Sudan and is part of Western Bahr el Ghazal State’s Raja County. However, due to political-administrative issues, the area has been administratively connected to Sudan’s South Darfur State,” Musa said. “It is clear that this area has no connection with South Darfur. We also have areas like Radom, Sungu, and Hofra Al Nahas belonging to Raja County, but during the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the Sudanese army controlled these areas. When the SAF withdrew, the RSF took control, yet these areas belong to South Sudan.”
Commissioner Musa added that these areas contain mineral resources previously utilized by the Sudanese government, but are now being looted by the RSF.
He said county authorities have informed the state and national governments about the situation and urged them to take measures to reclaim the territories that belong to South Sudan.
However, Brig. Gen. James Par Riek, the SSPDF commander in Raja County, denied the presence of RSF forces in the county.
“If the commissioner mentioned Radom and Kafia Kinji, these areas were under the control of Sudan, and in the areas we control as the SSPDF, we do not have such reports,” Gen. Par said. “Radom has always been under the control of Sudan Armed Forces, and if the RSF is there, it is their problem in Sudan. In South Sudan, we control our areas, as you all know.”
Gen. Par added, “If there are reports like that, we have a law that prohibits armed forces from entering the country with weapons. If one of the groups fighting in Sudan comes to us in South Sudan, we disarm them and welcome them as civilians.”
