Ambassador Apuk Ayuel Mayen, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, addresses the media on Saturday, November 23, 2024 – Eye Radio/Lou Nelson

South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned allegations made by Assistant Commander-In-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Gen. Yasser Al-Atta – including his claim that South Sudanese make up 65% of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Juba’s response on Tuesday is the latest in a series of tense exchange of statements at the UN and elsewhere that threaten to derail fragile relations between the neighbors.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Amb. Apuk Ayuel Mayen expressed concerns over a spate of official statements made by Khartoum in the wake of the “unprovoked, horrific and despicable massacre” of South Sudanese citizens in Al Jazira State.

Following the recapture of Wad Madani on January 11, 2025, footages were published on social media of South Sudanese nationals in civilian clothes laying dead in the streets, with others executed publicly on camera.

The horrific incidents sparked condemnations from Juba and regional blocs including IGAD, EAC and AU – and raised concerns about the safety of thousands of refugees stranded in the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, Sudan’s deputy commander-in-chief Gen. Al-Atta made serious allegations in a video clip dated 20th January 2025 – that 65 percent of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are South Sudanese nationals.

“We have been in contact with South Sudanese officials over the past two years regarding the involvement of South Sudanese opposition figures fighting alongside the RSF,” Al-Atta said, addressing soldiers at the army’s 4th Division headquarters in Ed Damazin.

He cited Stephen Buoy as an example and said he was disappointed with South Sudan’s alleged lack of action to address the issue.

In response, Amb. Apuk Ayuel, said the government of South Sudan is surprised by the rhetoric. Ms. Ayuel said while the remarks appear to deflect attention to the crimes committed in Al Jazira State, they warrant an official response.

She said the narrative that South Sudanese form 65% of the fighting force within RSF is “an absolute exaggeration”, adding that many of the militia groups cited are still fighting alongside the Sudanese army.

“We wonder why General Atta failed to mention them, during official meetings with our brothers from Sudan we made these facts as clearly available to them as possible,” Ayuel said.

“We are now surprised that General Atta is pedaling such falsehood which may have motivated some members of SAF to commit horrific massacres against innocent South Sudanese citizens in Wad Medani and its surroundings.”

Ms. Ayuel narrated that since Khartoum descended into civil war, South Sudan has remained neutral, supported the country’s peace efforts and opened its borders to hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees who have now established businesses and are leading normal lives in the country.

She underlined that the South Sudanese elements participating in the Sudan war – are mostly militia groups that the previous Sudanese regime recruited and armed under its Department of Popular and National Forces.

She said such proxies were deployed to wage war on the former SPLM/A that fought for South Sudan’s independence and to support Sudan’s Islamic allies in the Middle East.

“When South Sudan fortunately proved undefeated through proxies, those militia elements continue to lurk along the borders where the Sudanese military intelligence uses them and some were recruited to faraway wars such as Yemen,” she stated.

Ms. Ayuel further refuted claims that South Sudan has been harboring and treating wounded RSF fighters, arguing instead that it has since protected dozens of Sudanese army troops who fled Mariam to Northern Bahr el Ghazal and to Renk in Upper Nile State.

“We emphasize that the claims made by the Sudanese government are unfounded and misleading. They do not reflect on the realities on the ground and undermine the historical bilateral relations between Sudan and South Sudan.”

Addressing a UN Security Council session on January 22, Foreign Minister Ramadan Abdallah Goc called on the world peacekeeping body to joint the call for credible investigation into the Wad Madani summary executions.

So far, the Sudanese military government has formed a committee that was already sworn in to investigate the atrocities, according to the head of committee, Yassir Bashir Al-Bukhari who is First Assistant to the Attorney General of the Sudan.

It is not clear when the findings of the investigation will be revealed.