The presence of firearms amongst different warring parties and rural population continue to threaten and destroy wildlife population in the country, the Ministry of Wildlife has warned.
Minister Alfred Akwoch Omoli in a statement calls for an urgent need to observe and respect the Wildlife laws of South Sudan.
He says the conservation of biodiversity and protection of wildlife is a key for securing the foundations for future sustainable economic development of the nation.
‘South Sudan is increasingly faced with new challenges in its endeavour to conserve and manage wildlife resources. In addition to the challenges of the ongoing conflict, the spread of unlicensed firearms to decimate the remaining wildlife populations within a short period of time due to a current increase in the level of commercial poaching , trafficking and trade in wildlife products, posing one of the biggest threats to our wildlife populations’, Minister Akwoch stresses.
He emphasizes that the ministry will soon enforce a complete ban on commercial hunting and trade in wildlife products.
‘This ban makes commercial hunting, trade or consumption of wildlife products {including eating bush meat and purchasing /selling ivory] illegal and a violation of the laws of the government of South Sudan. Such unlawful practices conducted by any party carry legal implications and may result in arrest of suspect, prosecution, seizure and confiscation of any means of asset, equipment and conduit used to commit such an offence, including vehicles found transporting the wildlife products’, the minister says.
He adds that bush meat hunting, trade and trafficking offences have been committed in South Sudan not only by private citizens, but also certain NGOs and UN personnel and other institutions.
It is a collective responsibility to ensure that these types of illegal activities are stopped, the Minister notes.