UN Country Team welcomes historic moment as Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape becomes South Sudan's first UNESCO World Heritage site

The United Nations Country Team in South Sudan has welcomed the inscription of the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking the country's first World Heritage Site and a landmark achievement for the conservation of South Sudan's exceptional natural heritage. The inscription was approved by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at its 48th session in Busan, Republic of Korea, on 26 July 2026.

The Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape encompasses Boma National Park and Badingilo National Park, both managed by African Parks on behalf of the Government of South Sudan. The 37,500-square-kilometre landscape also includes surrounding savannahs, wetlands and wildlife corridors that sustain the Great Nile Migration - one of the world's largest remaining terrestrial mammal migrations, involving an estimated six million white-eared kob, tiang and Mongalla gazelles each year.

Beyond its extraordinary biodiversity, the landscape is home to many communities who have lived alongside and stewarded its natural resources for generations, relying on the land for their lives, livelihoods and cultural heritage practices.

"This is a proud and historic moment for South Sudan," said Yayoi Segi-Vltchek, UNESCO Representative to South Sudan. “The inscription recognizes the Outstanding Universal Value of the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape and places one of the country's greatest natural treasures on the global stage. It also reinforces the importance of safeguarding this exceptional landscape for future generations while supporting the communities who have long been its custodians."

The inscription follows years of collaboration between the Government of South Sudan, UNESCO, conservation partners and local communities to prepare the nomination under the 1972 World Heritage Convention. Throughout the process, with support from the Government of Japan and the Swiss Development Cooperation, UNESCO has provided technical assistance, facilitated consultations, and supported national capacity building. 

The World Heritage Committee also inscribed the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, recognizing that while the landscape possesses Outstanding Universal Value, it also faces significant challenges, including insecurity, commercial poaching and climate shocks. The listing is intended to focus international attention on these challenges and mobilize coordinated efforts to strengthen the long-term protection and management of the site, ultimately resulting in removal from the list in Danger.

"This inscription is a proud moment for South Sudan and a reminder that protecting nature and supporting people go hand in hand," said Ramanathan Balakrishnan, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General in South Sudan and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i.. "By sustainably managing natural resources and safeguarding healthy ecosystems, communities help secure livelihoods and strengthen the foundations for peace. This milestone demonstrates what can be achieved through partnership between the Government, local communities, conservation organizations and the United Nations."

World Heritage inscription recognizes sites of Outstanding Universal Value to humanity and strengthens international cooperation and frameworks for their long-term management and conservation. For South Sudan, the designation represents an important milestone in protecting its rich natural heritage while showcasing one of Africa's most remarkable landscapes to the world.

The Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape was added to South Sudan's Tentative List of World Heritage sites in 2017. The Sudd Wetland and the Deim Zubeir Slave Route remain on the Tentative List, pending consideration for nomination.