The chairman of the opposition South Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SSPLM), Dr. Deng Bol Aruai Bol, has strongly condemned a preliminary arrangement announced by the Office of the President to transfer former Petronas interests in Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC) and Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) to Russia's Zarubezhneft. This deal was announced after a meeting in Moscow between senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum, Nile Petroleum Corporation (NilePet), and Russian state oil company Zarubezhneft.
According to the announcement, a Memorandum of Understanding and Letter of Acceptance were signed in Moscow on 29 October 2026. However, financial and other details of the deal were not disclosed. The meeting was co-chaired by South Sudan's Minister of Petroleum, Hon. Awow Daniel Chuang, and Russia's Minister of Energy, Hon. Sergey Tsivilev, on the sidelines of the third Russia–Africa Summit, which South Sudan attended from October 26–31.
Dr. Deng Bol, a political leader and former child soldier who led the Red Army Foundation from 2012 to 2022 and is currently in exile, expressed concerns that oil resources must serve the public interest. He noted that despite 21 years under President Salva Kiir's administration, the country has experienced war, displacement, unpaid salaries, failing public services, and widespread hardship.
The SSPLM leader rejected the legitimacy of Kiir's Juba-based, family-controlled administration, citing the dissolution of the transitional government on 22 September 2026. He argued that this administration has no mandate to govern and enter lasting resource agreements on behalf of South Sudan. Deng Bol emphasized that Article 172 of the Transitional Constitution places ownership of petroleum and gas in the people of South Sudan and requires their management for public benefit.
Dr. Deng Bol called on the Russian Federation and Zarubezhneft to suspend the transaction, citing the contested legitimacy of the Kiir administration. He demanded that they establish lawful ownership, the signatories' authority, and compliance with mandatory approvals before proceeding. The SSPLM leader also urged the disclosure of the signed documents, financial terms, liabilities, and commitments against future oil revenues.
The Malaysian state-owned Petronas oil and gas company held a 40 percent interest in DPOC and another 30 percent stake in GPOC before withdrawing from South Sudan in 2024. Dr. Deng Bol urged political parties, civil society, professional bodies, oil-producing communities, and other stakeholders to condemn this arrangement and demand independent scrutiny.
The people of South Sudan must not bear further obligations while the failures of the past 21 years remain unaccounted for, according to Dr. Deng Bol. The SSPLM leader's concerns and demands come as South Sudan and Russia move forward with plans to deepen their economic, technical, cultural, and investment cooperation.
Key points
- The SSPLM leader rejects the legitimacy of President Salva Kiir's administration.
- Dr. Deng Bol demands disclosure of the signed documents and financial terms of the oil deal.
- The deal has sparked concerns about the management of South Sudan's oil resources and the country's economic future.
