Authorities of Juba County in Central Equatoria State have launched a public awareness campaign to educate citizens on how they can acquire land legally.
Speaking at a press conference at the county headquarters in Kapuri, Charles Joseph Wani, Commissioner of Juba County said they want to save citizens from unscrupulous land dealers.
“It is to allow our people not to be cheated by the local chiefs who call themselves chiefs in most of the areas in Juba city like in the areas of Jebel Lemon, Jebel Dinka, like here recent in Liriki and New site, Hai Referendum all these areas, you cannot acquire land from the people there,” he said.
He stressed that the issue of land has become a national threat to the people of Juba claiming that it has become an organized crime.
“The issue of land is becoming an issue of insecurity. It is becoming a national threat, everyone wants to take the land on his way and it seems to be an organized crime. Some people just invade an area and even have weapons to resist the government,” added Joseph.
Conflicts over land have led to the loss of lives in Juba.
Section 14 of the South Sudan Land Act states that land may be acquired, held, and transferred through customary, freehold, and leasehold tenure.
Non-citizens may acquire leasehold land for specific periods.