The opposition South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM) has accused unidentified individuals of seizing land belonging to the Bongo community in Tonj South County of Warrap State for alleged gold mining, saying the activity is fuelling tensions in the area.
In a statement on Thursday and seen by Radio Tamazuj, the group said parts of ancestral land had been taken over and earmarked for artisanal and prospective gold extraction without consultation, consent or compensation.
The SSSM, led by politician Nhial Deng Nhial, said the developments reflected what it described as broader patterns of resource mismanagement in the country, alleging that oil revenues had failed to benefit the public due to opaque arrangements involving foreign creditors and politically connected networks. It did not provide evidence for the claims.
The group further alleged that increasing pressure to generate revenue had driven powerful actors toward mineral-rich rural areas, including gold deposits, where regulatory oversight is limited. It also claimed that any approval reportedly granted by a small group of local figures did not amount to legitimate community consent.
It said the alleged mining activities violated constitutional and mining laws as well as environmental safeguards, and accused unnamed actors of relying on state coercion to enforce what it described as illegal occupation and extraction.
Authorities in Warrap State could not immediately be reached for comment.
Opposition groups in South Sudan have previously made similar allegations against government-linked individuals and business interests over land and mineral concessions. Officials have in the past denied such accusations.
The SSSM called for an immediate suspension of all exploration and mining activities in the affected area, withdrawal of equipment and personnel, and an independent investigation into mining concessions in Warrap State, including disclosure of entities involved.
Gold mining has expanded in parts of South Sudan in recent years, particularly in rural areas where regulation remains weak and land ownership is largely governed by customary systems.
Nhial Deng Nhial, a prominent politician from Tonj, suspended his membership from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and later formed the SSSM in October 2025. The group is part of the United People’s Alliance, an opposition coalition led by Pagan Amum.
and then