mining site – courtey photo

The Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area has suspended all gold mining activities in Raad town following tensions between local communities.

Raad, a mineral-rich town on the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia, has recently become the center of a dispute involving the Anyuak and Murle communities, according to Greater Pibor Information Minister Jacob Werchum Juok.

In an order issued last week, Chief Administrator Gola Boyoi Gola directed all mining companies operating in the area to stop work immediately until further notice.

Minister Werchum said the suspension is intended to ease tensions and allow authorities to identify companies operating without licenses.

He said more than 100 companies are currently engaged in gold mining in Raad, including Ethiopian-owned firms and others operating without authorization from the Government of South Sudan.

“As of now, I can confirm that the Chief Administrator of Greater Pibor Administrative Area has issued a letter suspending all mining activities in Raad. More than 100 companies are involved in gold mining in the area, and gold is the only mineral currently being mined there,” he explained.

“The decision was taken following a dispute between the Anyuak and Murle communities living along the border. The misunderstanding needs to be resolved peacefully before mining operations can resume,” he said.

“That is why the Chief Administrator decided to suspend all mining activities in Raad. The measure is temporary and is intended to create an opportunity for the government and local leaders to address the issue and restore stability,” he added.

Werchum said efforts are underway to resolve the dispute and restore calm in the area.

According to the minister, authorities hope the suspension will help address security concerns and streamline mining activities before companies are allowed to resume operations.

“We believe the suspension will be lifted soon. It will not take long, provided we establish the facts surrounding the dispute and work together with the national government to find a solution. Once the matter is resolved, mining companies will be allowed to resume their normal operations,” he stated.

Under the order, all mining companies in Raad must cease operations immediately. The administration warned that any company found violating the directive would face administrative action and other consequences.

While there is no publicly available data on the size of gold deposits in Raad, mining activities have increasingly become a source of tension and security concerns in the area.

In 2024, Chief Administrator Gola Boyoi Gola accused Ethiopian companies of encroaching 15 kilometers into South Sudanese territory in search of gold.

At the time, he said more than 50 illegal Ethiopian mining companies were operating in the Raad area.