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Minister Napwon bans illegal logging across South Sudan

Author: Lasuba Memo | Published: January 21, 2025

Logs destined for export seen Mere Boma of Kajo-Keji County|Courtesy

The Minister of Environment and Forestry has banned the cutting of trees in the country’s national forests and their exportation amid reports of renewed Logging in Kajo-keji County, Central Equatoria State.

Minister Josephin Napwon’s order dated 20th January came following an outcry from locals in Kajo-Keji County concerning illegal logging in the area.

At the weekend, the natives of Kajo-Keji appealed to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Central Equatoria State governor, and the county commissioner to intervene and put an end to alleged illegal logging in the area.

The locals shared pictures of fell trees and a loaded truck bearing a Ugandan number plate in Mere Boma of Kajo-Keji County.

In what appears was a response, Minister Josephine Napwon accused armed forces and County officials of being involved in the activities.

“We found out that people who are doing logging are people with guns in their hands, most of them fall in the category of people of South Sudan and also, some of our commissioners are giving illegal permit to foreigners to cut our forest.

‘If you see the case Kajo-Keji, it is actually our own forces, and I don’t know whether there is a division among the forces in Kajo-Keji but I believe these are all people with arms in their hands.

To stop the practice, Napwon issued an order prohibiting the tree harvesting and exportation, and mandating the security organs to arrest violators.

“The Ministry urges the authorities in the states to refrain from granting forest concessions or permits to provide companies to log with out consultations. This is not only in Kajo-Keji but we have witnessed this in the states.

The order came into effect since yesterday.

According to Napwon, a forest bill is underway adding that the Ministry is developing policies to guide the use of natural forest according to international standards.

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