Arop Jonchol
The Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries, and Tourism in Central Equatoria State, Alex Lotiyu Elia, has ordered the immediate closure of two slaughterhouses in Mangala Payam due to poor hygiene standards.
“These slaughterhouses must shut down immediately until sanitation issues are resolved,” Elia stated after inspecting the facilities in Gumbo. “Human life is more valuable than the revenue we collect. That said, we are not banning slaughterhouse operations entirely.”
He urged the slaughterhouse owners and the butchers’ union leader to meet with the ministry to explore viable solutions.
Elia also called on the national government and investors to help fund the construction of modern, hygienic slaughter facilities, stating that improved infrastructure would ensure cleaner environments and reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Meanwhile, Noel Lado, Payam Director of Rajaf, noted that local residents have long demanded the relocation of slaughterhouses from residential zones due to health hazards.
“People here have complained that waste from the slaughterhouses is making them and their children sick,” Lado explained.
On the other hand, Paul Bol, owner of Bilnyang Slaughterhouse, appealed to state authorities to reconsider the shutdown, stressing the economic impact on workers and meat supply.
“The government should allow us to keep operating. If the slaughterhouses are shut down, where will the butchers work? Where will people get their meat? We should wait for a meeting with the ministry first,” Bol argued. The closed facilities include Dubai and Bilnyang slaughterhouses in Mangala Payam.
