Author: Obaj Okuj | Published: 8 hours ago
Aerial view of Gudele suburb in Juba City – Photo credit: Koang Pal Chang/Eye Radio, November 6, 2023
The Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities of Central Equatoria State has ordered an immediate end to all land demarcation and planning activities in the state.
According to Minister David Morbe Aquilino, the order affects the six counties of Central Equatoria State, the Juba City Council, and Wonduruba Administrative Payam. It takes effect immediately from the date of signature.
The order states that no county, payam, or Juba City authority is allowed to carry out new land demarcation or surveying on its own.
All such activities must now be conducted only through the Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities, with the full involvement of communities and local authorities.
The minister also directed that all survey and planning work already done in and around Juba, including investment areas, must be submitted to the ministry for review and harmonisation.
This comes as the ministry works to update the Juba Master Plan.
The ministry, together with land administration offices and law enforcement agencies, has been tasked to ensure the order is fully enforced.
Juba and other parts of Central Equatoria State have continued to face growing land grabbing by powerful individuals who sometimes use force to dispossess legitimate land owners.
