(BOMA PARK) – South Sudan’s Minister of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism Denay Jock Chagor has expressed strong support for new initiatives to strengthen conservation and tourism development following an aerial tour of the Jonglei – Badingilo – Boma landscape with African Parks Network.
During the tour, the Minister witnessed the large scale migration of Tiang antelopes, one of Africa’s great wildlife spectacles, and discussed ways to protect the region’s biodiversity while promoting economic opportunities through tourism.
According to African Parks, the Minister was deeply moved by the vast natural beauty and ecological richness of the area and pledged to enhance cooperation with the conservation organisation to safeguard the country’s natural heritage.
The Minister outlined a four point commitment to advancing conservation and tourism efforts. These include strengthening collaboration with African Parks, promoting sustainable land use planning, establishing a transboundary “Peace Park” to unite neighbouring communities through conservation, and expanding tourism across South Sudan.
Officials at African Parks welcomed the Minister’s leadership, describing the visit as an important step towards developing community-centred conservation and tourism that can generate jobs, attract investment, and contribute to national revenue.
The proposed “Peace Park” aims to link communities across Jonglei, Badingilo, and Boma through shared management of natural resources. Conservation experts believe this model could help reduce resource-related conflicts, attract international funding, and support rural livelihoods through tourism and conservation-based enterprises.
The Jonglei–Badingilo–Boma landscape is among South Sudan’s most biodiverse areas, hosting elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, and millions of migratory antelopes. It is also a key area for ecological connectivity between national parks and community-managed lands.
African Parks, which manages protected areas across Africa, has been working with the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism to support sustainable land use planning, strengthen law enforcement, and promote wildlife tourism as part of South Sudan’s post-conflict economic recovery strategy.
Conservation and tourism analysts say that improved infrastructure, security, and regulatory support could make the country one of Africa’s emerging eco-tourism destinations in the next decade.
| Proposed Priority Areas for South Sudan’s Tourism Development (2025–2030) | Economic Benefits |
|---|---|
| Peace Park in Jonglei–Badingilo–Boma Landscape | Cross-border conservation and peacebuilding |
| Wildlife law enforcement and anti-poaching | Improved ecological stability |
| Community managed tourism | Employment creation and local revenue |
| Sustainable land use planning | Reduced conflict over natural resources |
| Infrastructure for eco-tourism | Increased foreign investment |
The Ministry’s renewed commitment to conservation comes at a time when South Sudan seeks to diversify its economy beyond oil, using tourism and natural resource management as potential growth sectors.