One of the oldest mahogany trees that was cut down in Yambio town in March 2023. (Courtesy)

Yambio County Commissioner in Western Equatoria has accused the state Ministry of Agriculture of approving excessive cutting of trees in the local forest, but the latter has denied wrongdoing.

Commissioner Mbiko Barakat issued a local order in September, banning illegal logging in Yambio County and declared a 72-hour ultimatum to those dealing in the business to cease the operation.

Barakat criticized the agriculture ministry for authorizing the sale of standing mahogany trees that have existed for hundred years – each at only 15,000 to 20,000 South Sudan pounds.

“I am not refusing the cutting of timber, but it should be in a legal way in a legal way. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture on a daily basis is just giving the authorization to cut mahogany. Was mahogany planted by the Ministry?” the commissioner said.

Mr. Barakat further said those cutting the trees are South Sudanese colluding with foreign companies.

According to him, the trees are being cut without replacement.

“It is the local community who are suffering because we are burning it as charcoal, we are cutting it illegally minus planning. If we could be planning like they say plant three and cut one or plant five cut one, it could be fair.”

The commissioner disclosed that he has temporarily relocated his office to Gangura Payam to regulate the alleged illegal logging which he believes is affecting the environment.

According to him, he has also notified State Governor Alfred Futuyo about the decision to relocate his office to the southeast part of Yambio County to personally stop the logging activities.

“I will not come back until I make sure that all the machines will be stopped in Gangura Payam, and I am sure that one will be done only in a few days.”

“It is we the South Sudanese who are destroying our own environment with ignorance without knowing that tomorrow, it will affect us because this forest is contributing a lot to our environment in Yambio, and we are not planting trees.”

In response, Alison Barnaba, the state Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Environment, dismissed the accusation.

Mr. Barnaba said he only gives letters of no objection to those intending to deal in cutting the trees before directing them to the county authorities.

“Since I came in 2021, I never directed somebody directly to go to the bush. What I usually do is follow the system of the government at the Ministry of Agriculture, and Forestry,” he said.

“When a businessman comes to me or a company wants to deal with trees, I normally give directives issued to him with no objection directing him to go to the County to present himself to the county authority.”

“The county authority will take him to the boma because all the bushes around they belong to the county. The state ministry is only to officiate the facilitation of the latter to direct this partner to go to the county, it is the county who is dealing with this business.”

Minister Barnaba explained that he also issued an order in January 2023 – banning the illegal cutting of trees in the state, adding that the order was lifted two months ago.

He confirmed ongoing “illegal” cutting of trees but blamed the County Commissioners for not taking any action to stop the malpractices.

“They [Commissioners] never take any action about it because I make laws and orders but the implementation of these orders it is the county commissioners who are to implement.”

“If they don’t cooperate with it, that means it is not my fault, it is the fault of the implementers because I have already given an order.”

“The violation of the order is at the grassroots simply because in Western Equatoria, individuals yes, they bought the machines, and those machines they go illegally for cutting the mahogany.”