South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"

By Arich Deng Anyar
The National Minister of Environment and Forestry, Josephine Napwon Cosmos, on Tuesday issued ministerial order banning illegal cutting of trees in a bid to protect the environment.
“In exercise of the powers conferred upon me under Article 114, read together with the provisions of Article 41, of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan as amended 2015, and read together with the resolution of the Council of Ministries NO.46/2015 dated 27th March 2015, I Minister of Environment and Forestry, do hereby issue this Ministerial order NO.1/2025,” read a circular issued in Juba.
It said that the ministerial order prohibits issuance of licenses to local and foreign logging companies.
“Cutting of natural trees including Mahogany, Vuba, Afzelia , Balanites, Ficus Spp and Acacia are hereby prohibited,” it disclosed.
The ministerial order also banned the exportation of these tree species.
“Under this ministerial order, the ministry responsible for forestry upholds the right to authorize / give permit to any person or natural persons based on his/ her application and circumstances necessary for approval,” it said.
It called on law enforcement agencies to arrest any person cutting or exporting trees harvested from natural forests without permission.
This ministerial order reinforces Ministerial order NO.5/2015 and Ministerial order NO.3/2018 all issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.