8th February 2025
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Checkpoints removal drives poaching as 7,500 animals killed in Jonglei in 2 months: official

Author: Baria Johnson | Published: January 23, 2025

Tiang, a type of the antelope, hide under a tree in a national park in South Sudan [Brian Inganga/AP]

The National Ministry of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism said commercial poachers have taken advantage of the removal of the checkpoints across the country, leading to rampant hunting and unimpeded smuggling of bush meat to Juba and areas.

In January 2025, several state governments including Northern Bahr El Gazal, Warrap, Unity, Western Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria embarked on removal of illegal checkpoints to implement the 8th Governors’ Forum resolution.

Lt. Gen. Khamis Adiang, Director General in the Ministry of Wildlife, said the monitoring of smuggled wildlife products being transported to Juba has been greatly impacted by the dismantling of checkpoints.

He stressed that a survey carried out by the ministry in Jonglei State found out that in two months’ time, 7,500 heads were killed.

General Adiang lamented that as result, Juba is now full of Bush meat coming mostly from Jongeli State. He warned that if the current trend of poaching continues, many species will end up being extinct in five years’ time.

“Our monitoring of transportation of wildfire products into the capital Juba was somehow affected by the closure of checkpoints,” he told Eye Radio.

“I think the checkpoints meant by the order were those taking money, but in our case, we do not take money. We check the vehicle whether it has wildlife products if not then it just proceed. We have been affected and now Juba is full of bush meat especially coming from Jongeli state.

“We made an experiment to establish a date base in Bor and in two months, 7,500 heads have been killed and if we go with the same trend, we will not find a single animal after 5 years or ten years.”

In June 2024, President Salva Kiir announced South Sudan has the world’s largest wildlife population following a survey conducted by African Parks – which estimated 5.8 million – about half the country’s population.

The flourishing wildlife, particularly the antelope population, is equally facing significant threats due to rising commercial poaching, exacerbated by hunger, the prevalence of weapons and weak law enforcement.

The wildlife conservation authorities have on multiple occasions, seized vehicles smuggling bushmeat and arresting suspected poachers.

In April 2024, the government issued stern warnings against poaching, emphasizing that it is illegal to kill wildlife for consumption or sale.

The Manager of the African Parks Network said South Sudan has the potential to become a global leader in wildlife conservation through the protection and preservation of its natural resources.

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