South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has reportedly ordered a reversal of construction of settlements by soldiers deployed in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state following complaints raised by SPLA Lt Gen Thomas Cirilo, a government source said.
Cirilo, who is the SPLA Director of Logistics, accused groups of SPLA soldiers of grabbing land belonging to Bari people in Rajaf and Gumbo payams in Juba county, the source who requested anonymity said.
Cirilo vowed not to resume his work until the land was returned to the rightful owners, the source said.
According to the source, Kiir responded to Cirilo’s complaint by ordering the Commander of the Presidential guard (Tiger Division) Gen Marial Chanuang to demolish settlements built by SPLA soldiers in Rajaf and Gumbo and hand the land back. The source said the demolition process started last week but was halted for the Easter holiday.
The land row comes amid a reported uptick in tension in the Rajaf area between Bari inhabitants and Dinka settlers, according to other local sources speaking to Radio Tamazuj.