Local authorities in the South Sudanese capital Juba carried out this morning demolitions targeting squatters and un-surveyed houses and shops at Thongpiny (Juba Nabari) residential area, which is not far from Juba International Airport.
A number of bulldozers were seen beginning to demolish shops and houses in selected area amid deployment of security forces involving the SPLA and police forces around the demolition site.
It is not yet clear whether the government is planning to do anything to assist those affected by these demolitions, which began at about 6:00 a.m.
However, a source suggested that the government will compensate the affected citizens with plots located east of Juba town in Rajaf area.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, several affected residents expressed discontent about what they said was too little time given to them to vacate their shops and houses.
A woman affected by the demolition said she will never go elsewhere and that she had been staying in this area since 1985.
“I need this land of mine here – where can I go now?” she asked. “So I call on the government to build for me a house here in this plot because I am not going anywhere,” she added.
Meanwhile, authorities at the demolition site refused to talk to the press.