A surge of violent, organized land grabbing is creating a frantic crisis in Jebel Lado Payam, community leaders have informed Central Equatoria State Governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel on Sunday.
Local leaders say the illegal seizures of land have triggered killings, forced residents from their ancestral homes, and caused severe food shortages.
Leading a delegation to the Central Equatoria State governor, Juma Tombe Farajallah, Chairperson of the Jebel Lado Development Union, stated that the area is under siege from well-armed, organized grabbers.
He described the situation as a calculated campaign of violence that has left the indigenous community in a state of “untold suffering.”
”Your Excellency, we are calling upon your leadership to urgently intervene and ensure this issue is addressed once and for all,” Tombe appealed.
In response, Governor Mujung acknowledged the gravity of the situation, thanking the leaders for their courage in speaking out.
He reaffirmed his administration’s core mission to restore order and vowed to uphold the rule of law to end the crisis.
“My priorities are peace, unity, and security,” the Governor stated, urging the community to remain united.
He pledged to collaborate with all relevant authorities to forge a lasting solution and bring stability back to the Payam.
Land grabbing remains a persistent challenge in Jebel Lado Payam, continuing despite the government’s efforts to curb it.
Even last year, when local authorities demolished illegal structures in a direct stand against grabbers, the problem continued unabated.
The community in Jebel Lado payam has seen little relief, even after President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s 2021 initiative to form a 12-member committee specifically to investigate the widespread issue of land grabbing around Juba City.
