South Sudan Receives 2.2 Million Dollars for Mine Clearance

(JUBA) – The Government of Japan has provided financial support to South Sudan to help clear landmines and explosive remnants of war, making communities safer and allowing more land to be used for farming and business.

The launch of the programme took place at the National Mine Action Authority headquarters in Juba on 1 October 2025.

The project is implemented by the United Nations Mine Action Service with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japan will contribute 335 million yen, which is about 2.2 million United States Dollars or 15.6 billion South Sudanese Pounds at the current exchange rate of 7,100 SSP to one Dollar.

The funding will be used over 18 months to provide equipment, improve operations, and train teams working in mine clearance.

Officials said the work is not only about removing explosives but also about helping communities recover and enabling development. Contaminated land blocks farming, limits access to aid, and slows road and business projects. Currently, more than 22 square kilometres remain unsafe, putting families and children at risk.

Since independence, more than 1.2 million explosive devices have been destroyed. Over 1,300 square kilometres of land have been cleared, and 4,000 kilometres of roads are now safe. Mixed teams of men and women now operate in several states, showing the commitment to national ownership and gender inclusion.

Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Mine Action Authority, UNMAS, and the Japanese Embassy attended the launch. They called on other international partners to continue support so South Sudan can meet the 2026 clearance target under the Anti Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

Japan has invested over 16 million US Dollars in mine action in South Sudan since 2011. Earlier this year, it provided another 300,000 Dollars to strengthen technical skills and support local teams. The new programme is also aligned with international commitments, including Japan’s leadership at the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, where mine action in Africa was highlighted as a priority.

Officials cautioned that recent security incidents, such as the ambush of a UNMAS vehicle on the Torit to Juba road, show that fieldwork remains dangerous. They urged improved security and political stability to protect workers and sustain progress.

The programme aims to restore hope to communities, enabling farmers to work safely, children to go to school, and families to return to their land. Stakeholders hope the investment will accelerate South Sudan’s path to a mine free future.