AWEIL — Authorities in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have arrested two suspected illegal loggers and seized two cutting machines in Aweil as part of a crackdown on unauthorized timber harvesting.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, State Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Garang Chan Atak said the arrests and seizures were made during an operation targeting illegal logging activities in the area.
“It has been in our policy that during the rainy season, people should not do logging again, and this matter has not been heeded by some of the people in the state,” Chan said.
Chan said the crackdown is aimed at protecting the state’s forest resources and preventing the uncontrolled cutting of trees for timber.
“For this reason we have sent out our team from the ministry to assess the vegetation, and some people have been found; that is when two people were caught still doing the logging,” he said.
He said the two suspects are being held by authorities as investigations continue into their alleged involvement in illegal logging.
Chan said the suspects would be arraigned in court after the investigation is completed to face the charges against them.
“Everybody has the right to attest to his or her position or stance. And if people don’t abide by the rules of the forestry, then they have to face the law.”
The minister warned individuals and businesses involved in unauthorized logging that they would face legal action, including the confiscation of equipment used in the activities.
He encouraged communities to cooperate with authorities by reporting cases of illegal tree cutting and other activities that threaten the environment.
Chan said logging is prohibited under new policies, particularly during the rainy season, to allow trees and other plant species to regenerate and grow properly.
The crackdown comes amid growing concerns over deforestation and the depletion of forest resources in parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
Logging involves the indiscriminate cutting of trees, which can contribute to deforestation, environmental degradation, and changes in local weather patterns.
Experts have urged communities to avoid cutting down trees without following proper procedures and guidelines set by the Ministry of Agriculture.
They warn that forests provide vital habitats for wildlife and other plant species, meaning their destruction can disrupt ecosystems and threaten biodiversity.
