By Lodu William Odiya
Central Equatoria State (CES) government has resumed the assessment and crackdown on land grabbing in the city.
On Tuesday the Central Equatoria state’s government Security Committee on an assessed areas affected by reported illegal land activities.
In a statement issued by the deputy governor’s press unit, these areas visited included Kadoro Village in Rajaf Payam, Don Bosco and was spearhead by the state deputy governor, Paulino Lukudu Obede on Tuesday.
Briefing the press, the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies, Leon Abe Brown, confirmed that the locations visited were identified in official State security reports and were supported by documented evidence.
“The Minister emphasized that with grave concern that the individuals involved are not only unlawfully occupying land for their own use, but were also illegally taking land belonging to private citizens, institutions, and the Church, and fraudulently selling such land to the members of the public” the statement partly read.
He (Minister of Local Government) particularly highlighted attempts to illegally acquire land belonging to St. Vincent Church, an institution that provides essential public services, including education and health care.
The Minister underlined that these illegal practices violate the rights of lawful landowners, fuel land-related conflicts, and undermine established land administration systems and the rule of law.
“The Central Equatoria State Government, under the leadership of Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony, strongly condemned all forms of land grabbing and the illegal sale of land, and urges all citizens to strictly follow lawful and recognized procedures when acquiring land” the statement read.
The assessment visit, attended by senior State leadership, local authorities, and security organs, reaffirmed the Government’s firm commitment to protecting public, institutional, and private land, and to promoting orderly, lawful, and sustainable development across Central Equatoria State.
Land grabbing has remained a volatile issue in Central Equatoria State, particularly in the peri-urban areas surrounding Juba. Rapid urbanization and high demand for residential plots have frequently led to “land cartels” bypassing official channels to seize communal or institutional land.
In recent years, the State Government has established various committees to resolve these disputes, as land-related tensions often escalate into communal violence. This latest assessment signals a shift toward a security-led approach to enforce the Land Act and restore public confidence in the state’s land administration system.
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