Magwi County forms taskforce to enforce ban on illegal charcoal export, logging

JUBA – Magwi County authorities have established a multi-sectoral committee to oversee revenue management and investigate illegal charcoal export and logging, as part of renewed efforts to protect forest resources and enforce recently issued local bans.

The committee was constituted through Local Order No. 05/2025, issued on 17 December 2025 by Magwi County Commissioner Pole-pole Benjamin Olum, acting under powers conferred by Presidential Decree No. RSS/RD/J/58/2024. The order formalises the county’s enforcement framework following a complete ban on charcoal export from Magwi to other countries.

According to the order, the committee will be chaired by Mannix Augustine Oloya, Director of Agriculture, Environment and Forestry.

Stephen Wani Karlo, the Deputy Executive Director, will serve as secretary. Other members include Kerere Agnes Okumu, a senior bookkeeper; Maj. Francis Okeruk Solomon of the National Security Service; Maj. John Peter Lasu of the Criminal Investigation Department, Kerebino Ornado from the Department of Immigration and Passport, and Aldo Ojara Aquilino, Paramount Chief and judiciary representative. All Payam Executive Officers are co-opted as members within their respective payams.

The committee’s terms of reference are broad and enforcement-focused. Chief among its responsibilities is the implementation of Local Order No. 04/2025, issued on 8 December 2025, which imposed a complete ban on charcoal export from Magwi County.

The taskforce is mandated to register all charcoal along the Magwi–Pogee road, including loaded or stored charcoal, charcoal found in forests—whether processed or unprocessed—and all logs, timbers, and beams.

In addition, the committee will register all non-nationals involved in the charcoal trade, as well as community members alleged to have facilitated their entry.

It will also identify and register power saw machines used for tree cutting in the county and collect them at headquarters for further investigation.

Another key task is to scrutinise logging permits issued by the State Anti-Illegal Committee to determine whether they are being used for their intended purposes and in line with approvals.

At the conclusion of its work, the committee is required to compile and submit a comprehensive investigation report to the Executive Director.

The formation of the committee follows the issuance of two local orders on 8 December 2025—Local Order No. 04/2025, banning charcoal export, and Local Order No. 03/2025, prohibiting the sale of tramadol. County authorities say the measures are intended to curb environmental degradation, strengthen local revenue oversight, and restore law and order in resource management.

Local officials expect the committee to begin operations immediately, signalling a tougher stance against illegal logging and cross-border charcoal trade in Magwi County.