Families in Kapoeta South County, Eastern Equatoria State, are increasingly relying on gold mining to meet their daily needs after a prolonged dry spell destroyed crops. The drought has affected farming, traditionally a major source of livelihood for communities in Kapoeta. Many households now depend on gold mining as an alternative source of income to buy food, pay school fees, and meet other basic needs.
According to Juma Buhkari, Chief Executive Officer of Kapoeta South Municipal Council, the prolonged dry conditions have destroyed crops, leaving many families dependent on gold mining. Families collect gold and sell it to raise money for household expenses. Climate change has affected not only South Sudan but other parts of the world, and people in Kapoeta are using gold to survive until the situation stabilizes and there is rain.
The shift to gold mining is mainly driven by the failure of agriculture in Kapoeta. For some households, income from gold mining is also being used to buy construction materials. Gold mining has become crucial as families cope with the effects of drought. The drought has led to severe food shortages and widespread crop failures in South Sudan, with Eastern Equatoria not being the only state affected.
The drought situation is severe in other states, including Warrap State, where the government declared a state of disaster in September 2026 due to severe crop failure and livestock losses. In Northern Bahr el Ghazal, local leaders in Aweil East report that crops are completely dead, with 70 percent of the state’s population facing food shortages. Gold mining has helped local families cope with the effects of the drought and meet some of their basic needs.
In Kapoeta, food prices are relatively lower than in other parts of the country, but gold has increasingly become an important means of payment for local families. Gold is being used to buy food, pay for medical treatment, and meet other essential needs. The locals use gold to purchase food from traders and for medical treatment.
Communities in Kapoeta do not rely heavily on the U.S. dollar, with gold increasingly serving as a form of hard currency for local transactions. The growing reliance on gold mining highlights the vulnerability of farming communities to changing weather patterns and prolonged dry spells. It also points to the need for early warning systems that can help communities prepare for drought and protect their livelihoods.
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre, ICPAC, reports that the dry conditions may change, with parts of South Sudan possibly seeing increased rainfall from October through December 2026. The rains could help replenish water sources and support crop production but may also increase the risk of flooding.
Key points
- Drought-hit families in Kapoeta turn to gold mining to meet basic needs
- Gold mining helps families cope with drought effects and food shortages
- South Sudan faces severe food shortages and widespread crop failures due to drought
