Land grabbing major challenge in Juba, says Chiangjiek

Minister Michael Chiangjiek (UNMISS photo)

South Sudan’s National Minister of Housing Michael Chiangjiek said land grabbing in the capital Juba remains a major challenge to his ministry.

South Sudan’s National Minister of Housing Michael Chiangjiek said land grabbing in the capital Juba remains a major challenge to his ministry.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Minister Chiangjiek said his ministry awaits the formation of state governments to develop a joint plan to address the issue of land grabbing in the neighbourhoods of Juba.

"There are many problems related to land grabbing in Mangatain, Gumbo Sherikat and other neighbourhoods. We are waiting for the announcement of the Central Equatoria State government to introduce measures to address the problem of land grabbing,” he said.

“I received many cases concerning land disputes and demarcation, but the ministry we cannot work without state governments to resolve land issues,” he added.

According to Chiangjiek, the ministry has developed a plan to solve land grabbing issues in the neighbourhoods that are not yet surveyed.

He said land grabbing has caused many problems among communities in Juba, appealing to those whose lands were grabbed to wait for the new government plan to resolve the issue.

The minister did not, however, disclose much about the new plan.

Currently, several land grabbing cases are before courts in Juba.

The transitional constitution states that all land is owned by the people of South Sudan, and charges the government with regulating land tenure, land use and exercise of rights to land.

Although South Sudan has passed laws recognizing community or customary land rights, campaigners say these legal protections are often undermined in practice.