A fresh land dispute has emerged in Lado Payam, with the Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor community urging the state government to halt the ongoing land demarcation process in Nyamini.
Last week, a group of elders and chiefs from the Bari community announced plans to allocate more than 20,000 plots in Nyamini, claiming that local chiefs, women, youth, and county officials had all agreed to designate the area as Nyamini City, open to all South Sudanese.
Justin Lado Wani, Executive of Jebel Lado, commended the efforts of the communities of Illa Kare and Ku’da Lo’dimi in allocating plots to meet the growing demand for urban housing.
He reassured residents that the area was now designated for development and urged them to embrace the changes.
In response, representatives from the Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor community met with Paulino Lukudu Obede, the Deputy Chairman of Central Equatoria State, asking him to stop the demarcation due to unresolved territorial disputes.
They submitted a formal petition outlining concerns over existing land conflicts between Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor and Kuda Lodimi communities.
Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Chairman Juma Jaden Lado called on the state government to intervene and immediately halt the demarcation efforts. He asserted that the community demanded its rightful place and rejected the ongoing process.
Yapete Mogga, Secretary General of the Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor community, outlined key recommendations from the petition, including the cancellation of land tokens and demarcation efforts, and the formation of a neutral committee to mediate the dispute.
He suggested that neighboring communities should traditionally declare their ancestral land borders to settle territorial disagreements.
Chief Michael Sadad Lado, Head Chief of Dolo Payam, emphasized the importance of resolving land disputes before proceeding with development, stating that while the community does not oppose demarcation, it must be an inclusive process that recognizes their rightful ownership.
Addressing the concerns, the Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria, who was serving as Acting Governor at the time of the meeting, assured the community that the state government was committed to resolving the issue peacefully and ensuring fair representation for all affected parties.
