Illegal Forest Logging Continues in Kajo-Keji Despite County Ban

UPDATE – New Context from Kajo-Keji County Commissioner’s Office.

There is new context on this story following an official press release issued by the Kajo-Keji County Commissioner’s Office. Key updates include:

+Denial of Allegations: The Commissioner’s Office has categorically denied reports of ongoing illegal logging in Kajo-Keji, calling them false and misleading.

+Enforcement Measures in Place: The county claims it has deployed a joint taskforce and sealed known logging routes since the 16 July 2025 ban.

+No Official Reports of Violations: Authorities state that no cases of illegal logging have been recorded since enforcement began.

+Media Accountability Call: The Commissioner’s Office has urged media outlets, including Access Radio®, to verify facts before publishing.

+Commitment to Transparency: Officials reaffirmed their dedication to lawful governance, environmental protection and openness to media engagement.

(KAJO-KEJI) – Illegal logging and timber trade are reportedly continuing in Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State, despite an official ban announced by the county authorities early this week. According to several local residents, lorries loaded with logs are moving mainly at night and then crossing into Uganda through various unofficial entry points during daylight hours.

Dowki Alison, a resident of Kangapo, expressed frustration that the commissioner’s ban was not being enforced on the ground.

“This business has been going on even though there have been orders issued in Juba and here in the county to stop it,” he said.

He further accused some members of the local government and security forces of accepting bribes to allow the illegal trade to continue.

“Are these trucks being released because security and government officials are being paid by the business people, or what exactly is going on?” he questioned.

Another resident, Arike Musa, called on the authorities to deploy security personnel at major crossing points along the South Sudan–Uganda border, including Jale, Bambure, Busia and Limi. He said tighter monitoring is urgently needed to prevent further timber smuggling.

“Our forest resources are being looted in broad daylight and yet the government is not implementing serious measures at the borders,” said Arike.

He also pointed out that communities in areas affected by logging such as Nyepo, Liwolo and Kala have not seen any social development such as clean water, schools, health facilities or markets, even though natural resources are being extracted from their lands.

On 16 July 2025, the Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County, Hon. Wani Jackson Mule, issued a formal directive ordering an immediate halt to all illegal logging and timber harvesting activities in Nyepo, Limi, Liwolo and Kala. The directive was addressed to the County Executive Director, the Directorate of Agriculture, Environment and Forestry and local security agencies.

Mule further instructed the Area Army Command to ensure that no military personnel assist or protect individuals involved in illegal logging. He noted that the directive aligns with existing national and state level ministerial bans and is intended to enhance enforcement at the county level.

Despite these orders, residents and observers say illegal logging is continuing, raising concerns about corruption and ineffective enforcement.

Boboya James Edmond, a political and policy analyst, criticised the situation and blamed weak regulatory frameworks.

“South Sudan is rich in natural resources, but we continue to lose revenue from forest products because of poor regulation,” said Boboya.

He warned that uncontrolled logging and the export of forest products without proper management or taxation would harm the economy and the environment.

“This unsupervised exploitation of forest resources is already contributing to deforestation, climate change, disruption of agricultural activities and damage to ecosystems and tourism,” Boboya added.

He called for urgent intervention by local, state and national government authorities to prevent further damage.

“Unmanaged exploitation and movement of forest products to international markets without generating public income is a major economic setback,” Boboya said.

The lack of investment in community development in logging areas, combined with the environmental cost, raises questions about who benefits from the continued illegal timber trade.

UPDATE to this Report

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We strive to verify all claims but recognise that real time reporting may present varying accounts. We do not endorse unverified allegations and welcome factual clarifications or rebuttals from involved parties.

Publication of any report, including this one, does not imply agreement with the views expressed. We believe responsible reporting includes offering space for official replies and clarification.

Kajo-Keji Logging Ban Claims Disputed as Commissioner Issues Strong Rebuttal

(KAJO-KEJI) – Conflicting narratives continue to emerge in Kajo-Keji County over the enforcement of a logging ban announced on 16 July 2025. While several residents claim that illegal timber activities remain active, particularly at night and near informal border points into Uganda, the county authorities have officially denied any ongoing forest exploitation.

In a press release dated 20 July 2025, the Office of the Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County refuted reports that logging activities have resumed or persisted despite the ban. The press statement described media reports, particularly those published by Access Radio® as “false, baseless and misleading,” arguing that they do not reflect the reality on the ground.

Full Text of the Press Release:

Press Statement – For Immediate Release
Press Secretary, Office of the Commissioner, Kajo-Keji County
Central Equatoria State
Date: 20th, July, 2025

Clarification on False Claims Regarding Alleged Ongoing Illegal Logging Activities in Kajo-Keji

The Office of the Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County strongly refutes and condemns the inaccurate and misleading claims published by Access Radio on Sunday 20th, July, 2025 alleging that illegal forest logging continues in the county despite the official ban issued by the County Government.

We wish to categorically state that these claims are false, baseless, and do not reflect the current realities on the ground. Following the county-wide ban on forest logging declared 16th, July 2025, the County Government has implemented a robust and transparent monitoring and enforcement mechanism involving local authorities and organised forces to ensure total compliance.

Recent findings from our joint taskforce and other relevant stakeholders confirm that there has been no reported case of illegal logging activity in the forests of Kajo-Keji since the enforcement of the ban.

Furthermore, all known logging routes and access points have been secured, and regular patrols are ongoing to deter any potential violators. We urge the management of Access Radio and all other media outlets to practice responsible journalism by verifying facts with relevant authorities before broadcasting unsubstantiated claims that may mislead the public and tarnish the image of our county administration.

The County Government of Kajo-Keji remains fully committed to environmental protection, lawful governance, and transparency in all its undertakings. We welcome constructive engagement from the media, civil society, and the public in our shared efforts to promote accountability and sustainable development.

For further inquiries or to access verified information, we encourage the media and public to contact the Office of the Commissioner directly.

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In response, several local residents interviewed earlier by Access Radio had insisted that logging trucks are still in operation, mainly during night hours. Dowki Alison, a resident of Kangapo, expressed concern that enforcement may be compromised.

“This business has been going on even though there have been orders issued in Juba and here in the county to stop it,” he said. “Are these trucks being released because security and government officials are being paid by the business people, or what exactly is going on?”

Arike Musa, another concerned resident, urged authorities to station enforcement teams at known exit routes such as Jale, Busia, Bambure and Limi. He criticised the lack of action in remote areas like Nyepo, Liwolo and Kala, which have suffered from forest exploitation without receiving public service investment.

“There are no schools, no clean water, no health centres or markets in these areas, and yet natural resources continue to be taken from them,” Arike said.

Political analyst Boboya James Edmond warned that the gap between policy and enforcement on environmental matters remains a systemic problem in South Sudan.

“We continue to lose public revenue because of weak oversight and corruption,” he said, adding that the long term consequences of unregulated logging include deforestation, climate change and harm to tourism and agriculture.

Despite the Commissioner’s orders issued early this week, residents argue that monitoring efforts are still insufficient in remote areas and at unofficial crossings.

EDITOR’S NOTE – Access Radio® is committed to fair and balanced journalism. We welcome official responses and encourage open dialogue to ensure all sides are represented. We will continue to seek updates from all stakeholders in order to keep the public informed with verified facts from both community and official sources.