The Central Equatoria state (CES) government has issued a stern waring to land grabbers and urged the public to cease illegal acquisition of land.
Addressing Journalists Friday, David Morbe Aquilino CES Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities said that it has come to the knowledge of the authorities that some individuals (Land grabbers continue to deceive the public.
The Minister narrated that land grabbers has been luring public to buy land under claim that the state government authorized them.
He revealed that land grabbing continues to be rampant in some payams of Juba County such as Mangalla payam, Luripayam, Rajaf payam, Lado payam.
The Minster informed the public to cease buying land from areas adding that the Ministry or CES has not authorized demarcation in those areas as claimed by the land grabbers.
“I would like to inform all the public as the Ministry to know exact what is taking place on the ground, because most of the allegation on the ground say that the Ministry of Housing in Central Equatoria state is part of the activities are now taking place on the ground, We would like to inform the public that the Ministry of housing or Central Equatoria is not part and Parcel of those activities which are now taking place in those areas” he explained
“I want to make it clear that we are not demarcating any land in those areas” he warned.
The Ministry expressed that the Ministry and land committee remain committed to ensure that cases of land grabbing deal with.
He expressed that the land grabbers continue to issued fake document scamming the public that they were given authority by the CES government.
The Ministry urged the public to cease listening to any land grabbing claiming that he/she was given go a head to allocate land to the public.
“Do not listen to land grabbers they will lie to you with fake document that we are part of them or has given them powers to give or sell the land” he warned.
He inform the pubic that the CES and Mistry of land and housing are not part of the activities taking place in those areas where grabbing has been rampant.
“There are land grabbers giving land people, lying that they were sent to allocate land, please do not buy from them and we are warning them to stop such practice.” He said
He expressed that South Sudan President Salva Kiir has given land committee powers to legally fight land grabbing.
Last week, National High-Level Land Committee adopted key resolutions aimed at intensifying efforts to resolve land-related disputes in Juba and surrounding areas.
The committee, formed in 2021 by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to tackle escalating land issues like grabbing and illegal settlements, held a meeting to restore lawful land management practices.
The meeting was chaired by National Minister of Land, Housing, and Urban Development Michael Chiengjiak and co-chaired by Central Equatoria State Governor Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani, and included senior officials and security representatives.
Speaking to the press, Central Equatoria State Minister of Housing, Lands, and Public Utilities David Morbe reaffirmed the committee’s strong commitment.
Morbe urged citizens with verified land ownership documents to be patient, assuring them that the government is actively working to secure and protect their legitimate claims.
“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 forceno further demarcations will be permitted in those zones,” Morbe said.
“Furthermore, the unauthorized use of private Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for land grabbing purposes is strictly prohibited. The Ministry retains exclusive authority over GPS usage, and any individual intending to utilize it must follow official procedures. This meeting marks a critical step in our resolve to uphold the rule of law and stamp out illegal land acquisition.”
Emmanuel Tete Ezbon, Commissioner of Juba County, highlighted the committee’s resolutions to engage directly with local stakeholders including community leaders, chiefs, intellectuals, and Members of Parliament to collaboratively develop lasting solutions to land conflicts.
