CES govt suspends land distribution in Juba County

Central Equatoria State government has directed the immediate suspension of all activities related to land allocation in Juba County in a bit to end massive land grabbing by armed men.

The decision was reached during a council of ministers meeting on Thursday.

This followed a presentation by the County Commissioner, Charles Joseph Wani on the status of land grabbing in Jebel Ladu, Kwerejik, and Rajaf.

The state Cabinet Affairs Minister Wayi Godwill Edward said the county official reported to the council incidents of mass land grabbing in those areas.

According to him, those reportedly involved are armed with some possessing military ranks.

“The council listened to a briefing by the Honorable Commissioner [Charles Joseph Wani] on the status of land grabbing in the Payams of Jebel Ladu, Rajaf, and Gondokoro in which armed individuals with others possessing military ranks are involved in land grabbing which is disadvantaging the people who are the owners of those ancestral lands.”

“After listening to the report, the governor of Central Equatoria state directed the immediate suspension of any survey at plots in Jebel Amiyan, Jebel Ladu, Kwerejik, Morbur and Rajaf,” he said.

Minister Goodwill said the decision was to find the best solutions to the crisis.

Early this week, the Chief of Bilinyang Boma in Juba County accused a group of armed individuals claiming to be leaders of the area of illegally allocating land in the area.

He said the groups who are armed forged a stamp to demarcate land.