Residents and community leaders in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area’s (GPAA) Pochalla South County are raising alarm over suspected contamination of river water sources, with mounting claims that ongoing gold mining activities are polluting the area’s main waterways.
Interviews by Radio Tamazuj with community leaders, residents, and officials, point to a widening environmental and public health concern centred on the Akobo River — a critical lifeline for communities in the border region with Ethiopia.
Nyeya Gilo Okwanga, King of Okwaa Anyuak representing the Gooc Royal Dynasty, said mining operations were exacerbating an already fragile health situation amid a near-total absence of basic services.
“Ongoing mining activities have polluted the Akobo River, rendering our drinking water unsafe for consumption, with water appearing unclear. Additionally, there is no health facility in Awetabala Payam, so residents have to seek treatment in Ethiopia amid impassable roads,” he said.
He accused mining operators of discharging waste directly into the river and called for urgent government intervention, both to halt the practice and to provide essential services.
“These mining machines are operating in our river, making water unsafe for consumption. Personally, I have skin rashes and swelling because of this water, and I am currently seeking medication,” he said. “As a community, we appeal for basic social services like clean water, health services, schools for our children, and roads.”
A Raad resident, Ajiba Obang Oman, described worsening humanitarian conditions, warning that the lack of clean water and medical supplies could force displacement.
“We are suffering from a lack of drinking water and medicines. People may end up being displaced into Ethiopia ahead of elections if we are not provided with clean water, shelter materials, mosquito nets, and medicines,” he said.
Raad, a gold-rich town in Pochalla South County bordering Ethiopia, has seen years of artisanal and semi-mechanised mining. Residents say contamination tends to intensify during the rainy season, when runoff carries mining residues into the river system.
Residents have specifically identified B-Sky General Trading Co. Ltd. as one of the primary entities operating in the area.
Documents reviewed by Radio Tamazuj indicate that the company holds a Small-Scale Mining Licence (SSML 19-2025/09/08-13:34) issued by the South Sudan Ministry of Mining.
The licence, signed by former Mining Minister Martin Gama Abucha, grants the company exclusive rights to small-scale mining operations within a specified area in Central Equatoria, though multiple local accounts place its current activities in Raad, raising questions about oversight and compliance.
Further documentation from the Ethiopian Customs Commission shows that B-Sky General Trading Co. Ltd. also operates a gold mine in the Dima district of the Gambella region, bordering South Sudan. Ethiopian authorities have previously authorised the company to transport mining equipment and fuel into South Sudan via the Dima road, highlighting the cross-border nature of the operation.
Polchalla-based civil society activist Othow Okoti said the environmental impact is already being felt across Pochalla and neighbouring Jebel Boma counties, citing livestock deaths, wildlife decline, and human health complications.
“Residents in Raad, Ajwara, Okadi, and other surrounding villages are suffering because the lifeline river is polluted with mining chemicals,” he said. “Over the past two weeks, 20 cows belonging to the Fallata nomads died after drinking from the river in Oliechi Village. There is also a significant wildlife and fish die-off, which we suspect is caused by contamination.”
He added: “Several people are also suffering, with two having passed away recently. A number of others are showing severe symptoms, including skin damage. We appeal to the national Ministry of Mining to regulate the operations of companies like B-Sky Co. Ltd., which are operating in our villages and have links with powerful government officials.”
Local authorities acknowledge the problem but point to jurisdictional and cross-border challenges.
Pochalla South County Commissioner Owety Olung said he had personally observed the pollution and confirmed that multiple companies, including Shark and B-Sky General Trading Co. Ltd., were operating in the area.
“I was in Raad and witnessed the pollution myself. One of the companies operating there is called Shark and B-Sky General Trading Co. Ltd., and I appeal that they should not wash or refine gold in the river. However, much of the pollution is coming from the Ethiopian side of the border. We are engaging our GPAA leadership to find a solution,” he said.
Despite the growing outcry, GPAA Information Minister Jacob Werchum Jouk said authorities had yet to receive a formal complaint, but pledged that an investigation would be carried out.
Efforts to reach B-Sky General Trading Co. Ltd. for comment via its registered contact information were unsuccessful.
