(KAJO-KEJI) – Residents of Kajo-Keji County in Central Equatoria State have expressed strong support for the recent arrest of two senior government officials linked to illegal logging activities in the region.
The arrests came following growing public concern over the environmental degradation caused by unauthorised timber harvesting and the long standing impunity surrounding natural resource exploitation.
The Office of the County Commissioner announced on 23 July 2025 that two senior officials in the County Directorate of Agriculture, Environment and Forestry had been detained for allegedly facilitating illegal logging operations. Their arrest follows a directive issued on 16 July 2025 by the Commissioner banning all timber related activities in several forest rich villages including Nyepo, Limi, Lilo and Kala.
The officials are accused of aiding the extraction and unauthorised transportation of timber across the border into Uganda. They were apprehended by members of Military Intelligence and are currently being held in a local detention facility pending the outcome of preliminary investigations.
According to County Commissioner Mule, the suspects will be transferred to the police for formal charges and prosecution once initial inquiries are completed. He reiterated the local government’s commitment to ensuring the legal process is followed and that justice is served.
The arrests have been widely welcomed by community members who see them as a rare but encouraging sign of accountability within government structures. Bosco Lukadi, a resident of Kajo-Keji, praised the authorities for taking action against their own officials.
“This shows that no one is above the law,” said Lukadi. “We are pleased with the work done by the Commissioner and the security forces. It is important that the government takes its role seriously in protecting its people and resources.”
Jacob Abure, another resident, commended the Commissioner for defending environmental protection laws. He called on the local government to continue setting a positive example in the fight against corruption.
“This is the first time I have seen such decisive action to defend public resources,” said Abure. “It gives hope that governance is improving, and that corruption will not go unpunished.”
Environmental and human rights advocate Victor Batali Silas also welcomed the arrests, saying they could mark a turning point in the fight against illegal logging in the region.
“These officials knowingly issued logging permits in defiance of a legal ban,” said Silas. “If found guilty, they should face the full force of the law to discourage future violations.”
Silas warned also against political interference in the legal process, citing previous instances in which illegal logging cases had stalled or been quietly dropped.
“We have seen this before. Logs seized, officials arrested and then the cases disappear,” he said. “This must not happen again. The public is watching.”
He stressed that illegal logging continues to cause serious deforestation, the destruction of biodiversity and long term environmental harm that may be irreversible if left unchecked.
Silas also urged the local administration to design a consultative and sustainable framework for forest resource management that includes community landowners, environmental experts and other stakeholders.
“This is an opportunity for the county to take bold, credible steps to protect its natural wealth,” he said. “The forest is timber, part of our livelihood, our ecosystem and our heritage.”
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