KAPOETA, South Sudan – Elders in Nakeke, Kapoeta South County, have proposed new agreements to allow gold mining companies to return after communities destroyed their property over grievances about unfulfilled commitments and local benefits.
The elders made the proposal on Tuesday during a meeting with caretaker county commissioner Yusif Lobai, according to a statement from his office.
They said people from several sections of the Toposa community were involved in the destruction and that Karengak should not be blamed alone.
“While stating they have no material compensation to offer, they proposed that mining companies be allowed to return under a new, clear agreement to extract gold,” the statement reads.
Youth representatives also backed the proposal, saying the companies had failed to fulfil commitments under memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
“Youths explained that the closure and destruction of companies stemmed from lack of proper implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), where many pledges were not fulfilled,” the statement reads.
The dispute prompted Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong Lojore to meet community representatives and affected mining companies in June following complaints about local employment, environmental damage and limited community benefits. He subsequently ordered the affected companies to suspend operations temporarily until adequate security and preventive measures were in place. In July, he called for the protection of lawful investments and urged communities to resolve grievances through dialogue.
Section 128 of South Sudan’s Mining Act, 2012, requires parties to mining agreements to support the development of communities near or affected by mining operations. The provision covers services such as schools, clean drinking water, health centres and roads. It also requires mineral title holders to implement corporate social responsibility programmes in line with applicable guidelines or international best practice.
The affected companies include Prudential Holdings, Eastern Equatoria Mining Corporation and Nakere Gold Mining Company, among others.
The commissioner’s office did not say whether any of the companies had agreed to return.