The minister of physical infrastructure, lands, and public utilities in Lakes State last week issued a one-week ultimatum for people occupying government land in Rumbek town to vacate.
According to the order seen by Radio Tamazuj, Minister Mawet Manuer Kok’s order targets squatters on government-owned playgrounds, markets, hospitals, schools, and in road reserves.
“In accordance with section 43 of the Land Act 2011, I, Mawet Manuer Kok, do hereby issue this ministerial order to demolish and remove the houses of all those who are residing on government land in Rumbek such as playgrounds, markets, water points, hospitals, schools, roads, and all government reserved lands in the residential areas of Akuac 1 and 2, Malith, Mabor-ngap, Makuriric, Mayom, and Makoi respectively,” the order read.
The minister told Radio Tamazuj that he has given the squatters one week to vacate government land.
“I have released a ministerial order on Wednesday for those who are residing in playgrounds and other government institutions in residential areas of Akuac 1 and 2, Malith, Mabor-ngap, Makuriric, Mayom, and Makoi respectively to immediately leave those areas”, he said. “Within a week, we are going to meet with them. We will go and consult them and we will register those who are living in those places and then we will go for final works so that they are evacuated and the areas remain empty.”
Meanwhile, the deputy director of lands and survey in Rumbek, Mabor Lual, said they will implement the ministerial order this week.
“Whoever is resisting will be dealt with accordingly by security organs,” he warned. “We have enough forces that are going to help us on the ground.”
According to Lual, the land policy in Lakes State is that only those who are found residing in playgrounds will be relocated to new residential areas but those who are residing on the roads will have to find where to go.
On his part, Moses Malek Dut, one of the affected residents of Mabor-ngap, said he will respect the order to vacate but blamed the state government for being unclear.
“We, as residents do not have a problem and it is the government that is confusing us the residents,” he said. “They told us that there was no land allotted and gave us this land.”
Dut urged the Lakes State government to relocate and resettle the affected people before demolishing their houses.