New Central Equatoria State governor told to tackle illegal logging gold mining

Tue 2025-06-17

JUBA – The newly appointed governor of Central Equatoria State, Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, has been called upon to prioritize environmental sustainability and community development by addressing rampant illegal logging, emerging gold mining, and governance issues. Mujung, appointed via a Presidential Decree on Monday, replaces Augustino Jadalla Wani.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), urged the governor to tackle illegal logging, unregulated gold mining, land disputes, security, agriculture, and complex political governance marred by rumours.

“The new governor must deal decisively with these challenges to foster sustainable development,” Yakani said.

Illegal logging has devastated forests in Kajo-Keji, Morobo, and Yei, contributing to desertification, biodiversity loss, and heightened conflict as armed groups and officials profit from the trade.

In January 2025, Environment and Forestry Minister Josephine Napwon banned tree cutting and exportation in response to reports of armed forces and county officials issuing illegal permits to foreign loggers, primarily from Uganda, in Kajo-Keji.

The ban followed an April 2024 investigation by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, which exposed unsustainable logging near the Uganda border, threatening rare tree species and violating South Sudan’s 2015 Paris Agreement commitments.

Despite these measures, enforcement remains weak due to military and local official involvement. In March 2025, Yei River County authorities suspended all logging activities, with Commissioner Emmanuel Taban emphasizing the need to reorganize the sector by registering companies and verifying documentation to curb environmental and financial losses.

Yakani urged Mujung to hold consultations with public constituencies before forming a government to build trust and confidence.

He cautioned against hastily reshuffling state ministers to appease political lobbyists, emphasizing continuity in governance. “The new leadership should prioritize investment in agriculture, building on the successes of the outgoing governor,” Yakani added.

As a former negotiator of the security arrangements under Chapter 2 of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), Mujung was also encouraged to lead in implementing the national action plan to protect children associated with armed conflict.

sudanspost.com