The Muslim community in South Sudan’s Jonglei State is complaining that land adjacent to Bor Mosque has been grabbed.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, the Secretary General for the Islamic Council in Jonglei State Ibrahim Geu, said parts of the land demarcated for the mosque has been allotted to someone else without their consent.
“During demarcation of Bor town in 2007, the mosque was not demarcated. So, recently as we wanted to build a fence, we realized that parts of our land including places for homes of Imam and “ma’azan” are given to someone with plot No. 22. The land belongs to us since the mosque was built in 1962. So we are appealing to the state authorities to give back the lands,” he said.
Geu further revealed that two Islamic schools were confiscated by the state government after demarcation of Bor in 2007.
The Muslim leader also said the state officials had pledged to give back the lands to the Muslim community but nothing has been done so far.
However, Bor Town Mayor James Gai said he is aware of the grievances by the Muslim community in Jonglei, adding his administration will resolve the Muslims’ grievances.
“It was approved by the former government in 2010. So I asked the Muslims to give me one week so that I go through the documents. Muslims are our people so we will see what to do about their land,” he added.
Jonglei state Information Minister Atong Kuol Manyang also assured the Muslim community that the state government is committed to settle the grievances but urged them to be patient and give government time to work on the grievances.