(JUBA) – A new initiative to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war was officially launched in the capital on 15 January 2026. The Mine Action and Cluster Munitions Programme Phase Three brings together the National Mine Action Authority and three international organisations including Danish Church Aid, the Danish Refugee Council, and Norwegian People’s Aid. The project is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is scheduled to run until 2030.
During the launch event, the partner organisations presented their specific roles in the programme. Danish Church Aid and the Danish Refugee Council will focus on the physical clearance of explosives and providing safety education to local communities. Meanwhile, Norwegian People’s Aid will provide technical support to help the South Sudanese government improve its own capacity to manage mine action activities across the country.
Officials from the Dutch Embassy and the United Nations Mine Action Service stated that these projects are needed immediately. They noted that the ability of the country to deal with landmines has dropped to some of its lowest levels in several years. The lack of current capacity makes the new funding and technical support vital for preventing accidents and opening up land for productive use.
The programme aims to reduce the dangers faced by rural communities and help build stronger national institutions. By removing explosives, the project supports the safe return of displaced people and enables sustainable development in areas that were previously too dangerous to farm or build on. A project of this nature often requires significant funding over its five year period. For example, a budget of $500,000 would be worth 3,550,000,000 South Sudanese Pounds ($500,000) at the current market rate.
All partners involved in the initiative expressed a shared commitment to creating a safer future for the people of South Sudan. They explained that the work done between now and 2030 will lay the groundwork for a country free from the threat of explosives. The launch marks a significant step in the transition toward a fully locally managed mine action sector.
