South Sudan’s parliament is set to table the long-delayed National Land Policy for a second reading next week, nearly two years after it was first introduced in 2024, a lawmaker said.
Petro Juol Machar, deputy chairperson of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly’s (TNLA) committee for legislation and legal affairs, said the draft policy is expected to appear on the parliamentary agenda after review by the Assembly Business Committee.
The lawmaker was speaking on Thursday during a community dialogue in Gumbo, Rejaf Payam, organised by the South Sudan Land Alliance.
The policy is expected to define land ownership categories, including private, public, community and customary land, and provide guidance on zoning for agriculture, urban development and protected areas.
Machar said progress had been delayed by the 2025/26 budget process and leadership changes within the assembly.
“This land policy was tabled in parliament in 2024 and underwent consultations, including workshops. Its progress was interrupted by the national budget process and leadership changes,” she said.
He expressed optimism the policy, once passed, would help curb land grabbing, a persistent issue in parts of the country.
A national land policy is seen as important because it clarifies land ownership, use and management, helping to reduce disputes and guide orderly development.
In South Sudan, land governance challenges include land grabbing, weak enforcement of laws, overlapping customary and statutory systems, and rapid urban expansion that has led to informal settlements and environmental degradation.
Dorothy Drabuga, chairperson of the South Sudan Land Alliance, called for swift passage of the policy, describing it as critical to addressing widespread land disputes and unregulated land use, particularly in the capital, Juba.
“The absence of a national framework continues to fuel land conflicts and informal settlements,” she said.
Drabuga said the policy would establish rules on land ownership, management and dispute resolution, helping to clarify who owns land, how it is allocated and how conflicts are settled.
She noted that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms led by community elders and chiefs often provide faster and more accessible solutions than formal courts, especially for vulnerable groups.
She also warned that weak land-use regulation had contributed to environmental degradation and disorderly development, including construction in wetlands and near residential areas.
“A clear land policy would help ensure proper planning and protect the rights of all citizens, including women, the elderly and people with disabilities,” she said.
The dialogue brought together community leaders, lawmakers, civil society groups and residents from Rejaf Payam and surrounding areas.
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