The arrests directly contradict a statement issued by Kajo-Keji County officials on 20 July 2025, which rejected local reports of an ongoing timber operation as groundless. That media response had come after residents observed night time movements of logs through forest routes and raised alarm about the impact on their farmland and environment.
(KAJO-KEJI) – Two senior government officials in Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State, have been arrested in connection with an alleged illegal logging operation in defiance of a recent ban on timber activities in the area. The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, by County Commissioner Wani Jackson Mule.
The arrests follow a directive issued by the Commissioner on 16 July 2025, prohibiting all logging and timber harvesting activities in several villages, including Nyepo, Limi, Lilo and Kala. The move was aimed at protecting the county’s forest resources and curbing unauthorised commercial exploitation.
According to Mule, the two unnamed senior officials from the County Directorate of Agriculture, Environment and Forestry were apprehended by personnel from Military Intelligence (MI) over allegations of their involvement in facilitating the illegal extraction and unauthorised cross border timber transit to neighbouring Uganda.
The suspects are currently being held in a local detention facility pending the conclusion of initial inquiries. Mule stated that “upon completion of preliminary investigations, they will be transferred to the police for formal legal procedures and trial in accordance with the law.”
The Commissioner reiterated the County Government’s strong commitment to environmental protection, adding that no official is above the law, regardless of their position or title.
“The public must see that we take conservation seriously. Any action that undermines national interest or public trust will be met with firm legal consequences,” Mule added.
Reports of illegal timber trade had surfaced earlier in the week after local residents observed suspicious activity along forest roads and near the border. Community members reported what they believed to be a continuation of logging operations and transportation of timber across to Uganda, despite the ban.
However, on 20 July 2025, Kajo-Keji county officials issued a public statement dismissing those reports as “false” and “baseless.” The new arrests, however, now appear to confirm at least some level of illicit activity, despite earlier denials by the local administration.
Timeline of Logging Ban
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 16 July 2025 | Logging ban declared in Kajo-Keji villages |
| 20 July 2025 | County officials deny reports of illegal logging |
| 22 July 2025 | Two senior officials arrested by Military Intelligence |
Suspected illegal timber activities are believed to involve transactions worth millions of South Sudanese Pounds. However, no exact figures have been disclosed so far.
Local environmental activist Batali has warned that continued illegal logging could seriously affect the region’s fragile ecosystem, fuel local conflict and contribute to land degradation and loss of biodiversity.
Kajo-Keji is one of South Sudan’s most forested counties, making it a target for both legal and illegal commercial interests. Smallholder farms have already reported major declines in maize and sorghum yields linked to deforestation.
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