The National Land Committee has initiated plans to secure and protect the rights of individuals with verified land documents in its Wednesday’s meeting in Juba.
The plans outlined measures to curb persisted land grabbing in South Sudan, particularly Juba City, where affluents triumph in land case, leaving common citizens at disadvantage. To combat the vice, the National High-Level Land Committee was tasked with addressing the escalating land-related conflicts with renewed vigor.
During a meeting chaired by Michael Chiengjiak, the National Minister of Land, Housing, and Urban Development, and co-chaired by Augustino Jadalla Wani, Central Equatoria State Governor, key resolutions were adopted.
Among them was the imperative to return unlawfully seized plots to their rightful owners.
“I want to make it unequivocally clear that my initial ministerial order concerning the demarcation or re-demarcation of areas previously surveyed by the Ministry remains in full force. No further demarcations will be permitted in those zones,” David Morbe, Central Equatoria State Minister of Housing, Lands, and Public Utilities told media.
The plans mandate the committee to apply relevant legal mechanisms to counter all illegal initiatives related to land disputes.
Emmanuel Tete Ezbon, Commissioner of Juba County, highlighted the committee’s commitment to collaborate with local authorities in fighting land grabbing.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that demarcated plots are formally handed over to their rightful owners with valid documents.
“We have recommended that all demarcated plots be formally handed over to their rightful owners, including those in areas such as Jonduru, Khor William, Kapuri, the Eastern Bank of Juba, and sections of Mangalla Payam,” Ezbon noted.
