The family of Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, Vice President for the Economic Cluster, has denied the alleged seizure and demolition of homes belonging to liberation war veterans and their families.
Mr. Mel Tong, the family spokesperson, said the circulating social media information is a calculated attempt to damage the Vice President’s reputation.
“I want to inform the general public that the misinformation being circulated by certain media outlets and individuals, claiming that Dr. Bol Mel grabbed land from the widow of a late general, is entirely false,” said Tong. “These accusations are misleading and harmful.”
According to Tong, the controversy stems from an act of compassion by a member of Dr. Bol Mel’s family, who offered temporary shelter to a woman facing eviction from a disputed plot of land years back.
During a wave of evictions and demolitions in the unnamed area, the woman reportedly said she had nowhere else to go, and was offered temporary accommodation and financial assistance to relocate, an offer she allegedly declined.
“This woman claimed to own two plots of land,” Tong explained. “But when the matter was brought before the court, she failed to provide any legal documentation to support her claim.”
Tong stated that the legal proceedings continued until 2022. Despite several appeals, including one to the High Court, the court ruled that the woman had no legal entitlement to the land.
“Even after the court ruling, she refused to vacate the property,” Tong said. “A formal demolition order was issued after her continued refusal to comply.”
He emphasized that all actions were conducted by legal procedures and supported by evidence presented in court.
“We are ready to provide documentation to anyone seeking clarification,” he added. “It’s crucial that the public understands the facts before spreading unverified claims.”
The incident highlights growing tensions over land ownership in Juba and the broader consequences of misinformation involving high-profile public figures.
On Friday, the Vice President’s family responded to a viral social media post by Agel Ring Machar, who accused Dr. Bol Mel, referred to as the “Crown Prince,” of humiliating three widows of a liberation war veteran by demolishing their homes.
“The same person who once vowed to protect liberation veterans is now allegedly using his power to seize and destroy their homes in front of their widows and orphans,” Machar claimed. “This comes after the veterans won their case against him in court back in 2022.”
However, eyewitness Deng Marol offered a different account, stating that the case had been in court since 2022 and that he had no knowledge of Dr. Bol Mel’s involvement.
“As I speak to you, I don’t know Dr. Benjamin Bol personally,” Marol said. “I only know of one woman who bought the land years ago, not Dr. Bol. The claims that he grabbed land from a widow of a late general are simply not true.”
