Authorities in Yei River County in Central Equatoria are calling on the state government to regulate tree logging at Kagelu national forest reserve.

Last week, 5 people were injured when residents of Kagelu area clashed with teak logging companies in the area.

The residents are demanding that logging stop in the forest until the government provides basic services to the people in the area.

Some of the demonstrators who spoke to Eye Radio said they have not benefited from the companies or the government for using their resources.

“We have seen now that the forest is going to finish, and there is no other development that has taking place,” said a resident who chose anonymity.

“The school is not constructed, that is why we have a peaceful demonstration –not with the companies but with the government to tell the government that we need development to take place in this center of Kagelu.”

A meeting between chiefs, youth, women and Yei River County authorities resolved to suspend the cutting of teak in the forest for two days last week.

The County Commissioner, Juma David Augustine, said the state government should formulate laws that will ensure local communities benefit from projects that involve exploiting local resources.

Mr Juma expressed concern that the forest plantation is being destroyed without benefiting the community of Kagelu.

“If we don’t come into this issue by issuing a mandatory position as a government –stopping these forest harvestors from moving our logs to Uganda or to other parts of the world, we will definitely lose this forest in a very short while,” he said.

“The state has to come with a position. If we do not have a control mechanism in place on this forest reserve which is being fast-exploited by the people who are sent from Juba through the national Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, we will lose this forest in the next 6 months.

“The community is raising concerns that the forest is getting finished and they are not being given the school they wanted, the health center they wanted, they have not been given the safe-drinking water they wanted, they are asking for the stoppage of the failing of these trees.”

The residents in Kagelu area of Otogo Payam in Yei River County insist that the government provides them with a school, a health center and a water borehole -in exchange of teak logging in Kagelu National Forest Reserve.