South Sudan calls for cooperation to curb mineral smuggling

JUBA – South Sudan’s government on Monday urged neighboring countries to strengthen cooperation to tackle mineral smuggling across borders, emphasizing the need for a united front to prevent illegal exports.

“Given the illegal nature of these operations, gathering precise statistics is incredibly difficult. This underscores the necessity for collaboration among the twelve participating countries to effectively curb illegal resource smuggling,” said Dr. Cosmas Pitia Kujjo, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Mining, at the official opening of the 29^th meeting of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) regional committee.

The two-day meeting, held in Juba, focused on addressing the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the region.

Dr. Kujjo stressed that protecting borders is a shared responsibility that requires concerted action among neighboring countries. He noted that gold remains the most frequently smuggled mineral in South Sudan, with significant quantities illegally moved to Uganda and Kenya.

He added that minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo often transit through Uganda into Sudan, eventually reaching global markets, including Dubai, which complicates regulatory efforts and hinders protection of the region’s natural wealth.

Dr. Kujjo also called for enhanced border control and introduced a certification process for mineral exports, which requires traders to present a valid certificate when trading internationally. “This measure ensures that only legally sourced minerals enter the market, promoting ethical trading practices,” he said.

The meeting aims to establish key priorities and review a draft mineral declaration addressing illicit resource extraction and trade across the region. It will conclude with a regional forum on mineral value addition and cross-border trade.

Scholastica Mwau, representing the ICGLR Executive Secretary, highlighted the need for flexible strategies and stronger collaborative frameworks in response to evolving challenges in mineral resource management.

Estanislau Buio, Chairperson of the ICGLR regional committee, added that the meeting would assess the progress of member states in implementing roadmaps to combat illegal resource exploitation.

“We will assess advancements made in addressing these critical issues,” he stated, underscoring the importance of a unified approach in achieving sustainable resource management.

Participating member states in the Great Lakes region include Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.