South Sudan, conservation group ink $10m deal to protect national parks

JUBA – South Sudan’s Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the African Parks Network for the management of national parks in a bid to generate revenues from tourism.

The 10-year management deal worth 10 million U.S dollars will preserve the Boma and Badingilo nation parks to generate income for the country.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Juba on Thursday, Lt. General Rizik Zakaria Hassan, Minister of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism said the deal aims to invest in the protection of wildlife to enhance the infrastructure for tourism.

“South Sudan will never be a liability in such arrangements based on the fact that the country is the land of great abundance,” Hassan said.

Hassan revealed that the MoU was negotiated in good faith.

“We have negotiated this MoU in good faith as a response to the previous failed and liable MoU of which huge resources were raised but very little was invested,” Hassan said.

Hassan said the MoU includes the establishment of Fauna and Flora conservation and the development of infrastructure at Boma and Badingilo parks.

Peter Fearnhead, Chief Executive Officer of African Parks Network urged the government to help the Network for the smooth running of the project.

“We often say agreement like this is more successful when the government helps us to help government, so this is not about the government of South Sudan taking all the problems and challenges alone,” Fearnhead said.

Fearnhead said expressed his commitment to work closely with the government to address challenges facing national parks in South Sudan.

“The challenges and problems are for us together, we are here to work for you and for the people of the ecosystem, and the more we do that together, the more successful we become.”