The city of Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur State, is experiencing a concerning surge in illegal expansion and encroachment on both private lands and public squares.

 This is primarily perpetrated by certain citizens who are taking advantage of the precarious security situation and the absence of official oversight to encroach on roads, public areas, markets, and even designated cemetery grounds.

Under these circumstances, some individuals have opportunistically seized private properties or encroached upon lands of public utility, proceeding with construction without facing any consequences or legal repercussions.

 “We’ve received numerous complaints regarding encroachments on lands, markets, and cemeteries. However, due to the current dormancy of the urban planning file, the matter has been referred to the state’s security committee,” a member of the High Popular Committee responsible for managing Central Darfur state, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday.

“New regulations, including laws addressing negative phenomena, are being implemented. But resolution of this issue may involve the application of military force,” the committee member who preferred anonymity added.

Human rights activist Munir Jamal has weighed in on the issue, shedding light on a concerning trend: “There’s a misconception among some individuals that by tampering with land records and unlawfully seizing properties, they can establish themselves as the rightful owners. This misguided policy of substitution and usurpation isn’t confined to Darfur but has also infiltrated Khartoum state. However, it’s crucial to understand that this belief is unfounded and without merit.”

Expanding on this, Jamal elaborated, “The reason for this misconception is the significant advancement in our land registry system, which has transitioned to digitalization. With an electronic archive in place, all damaged files and documents can be easily retrieved. Therefore, any attempts to erase records or manipulate documents are futile.”

Central Darfur State is one of the Darfur areas controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The war between army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan and his former deputy and RSF commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has killed tens of thousands and destroyed infrastructure.

Several ceasefire agreements brokered by Saudi and US mediators have failed to end violence in the country.