Yousif Ezat, the Special Envoy of the Rapid Support Forces in Juba. | Photo: Office of the President/Facebook.

The Special Envoy of the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Force said Tuesday the group will not tamper with the flow of South Sudan’s oil through its controlled territories at all costs, saying it is for the benefit of South Sudanese.

Youssef Ezzat, the Political Adviser to RSF leader General Hamdan Daglo Hemiti, dismissed reports that the group had given Juba a three-week ultimatum to declare its position on the ongoing war in Sudan or face a complete shutdown of its oil production.

Ezzat assured the South Sudan government that the RSF will not allow anybody in its controlled areas to cut off the oil flow.

“We in the RSF, are sending this message to respond to the report saying RSF has given the ultimatum of three weeks to the government of South to clear its position or RSF will shut down the oil pipelines,” Ezzat told Eye Radio in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

“Let me assure the people of South Sudan that this report is fake and not true and we don’t know who wrote this report. RSF will not allow anybody in its controlled areas to cut off the South Sudan oil.”

He added that South Sudan oil doesn’t have any relations with the political dispute in Sudan, but is a South Sudanese resource, owned by its citizens.

“Whether the position of the government of South Sudan agrees or disagrees with our position, this matter of oil doesn’t have any relations with the political issues.”

“We know that this oil is a resource to the government of South Sudan and it’s owned by the people of South Sudan and it doesn’t have any relations with the political position in whatever stand.”

Meanwhile, an online news site cited a dubious expert as saying on Monday that RSF has issued the ultimatum to the South Sudan government to stop paying transit fees to the Sudanese army or face a complete shutdown of its oil production.

According to Today News Africa, an African intelligence official said this has placed South Sudan’s leadership in an unenviable position, as any decision made within the time frame will likely lead to severe repercussions.

Eye Radio could not independently verify the “ultimatum” allegation.

But Envoy Ezzat dismissed the reports as fake. He reiterated his appreciation for the efforts and contributions of the South Sudan government in finding a solution to the conflict in his country.

“Any contribution from the government of South Sudan for the solution, we welcome it and there are no doubts from our side,” he said.

“The government of South Sudan received us and listened to us, and we are still continuing with the government of South Sudan and explaining our positions and we are seeing that the government of South Sudan in this crisis is the nearest country to us.”

“We hope that by being in this neutrality, it will play a role of a peaceful political solution, and most of the neighboring countries that understand the major issues that we are fighting for which are the issues of old Sudan.”

South Sudan produces 170,000 barrels of oil per day that flows through the heart of Sudan to the Red Sea Port in order to reach the international market.