Oil exploration and its effects on the environment and pastoralist communities in the Upper Nile region of South Sudan

Abstract

The operations of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) in South Sudan have engendered largescale environmental degradation. Although MNCs are obligated to respect the human rights of people in host communities, this is not the case in South Sudan where the legal framework is not effectively implemented. Thus, this policy brief argues that oil contamination is a serious problem for the environment and pastoralist communities. The weak enforcement of the Petroleum Act of 2012 has allowed oil companies to compromise the welfare of pastoral communities and the environment. Oil companies often do not comply with environmental regulations for cost reasons. They can only comply when they are forced to do so by the authorities, which is not the case of the regulating institutions in South Sudan. This policy brief proffers four recommendations: to strengthen enforcement of the legislation to ensure that oil corporations operating in the region adhere to environmental standards and international law; to conduct a comprehensive environmental and social impact assessment to determine the extent of pollution; and to prioritise a budget for the recruitment of qualified staff with the technical skills to set up reporting and accountability mechanisms to address oil pollution, CSOs and development partners in the governance sector engage with state actors and MNCs to promote free, prior and informed consent in oil rich communities.