JUBA – The South Sudan Land Alliance (SSuLA), a network of civil society organizations, on Wednesday called on the Transitional National Legislative Assembly to prioritize the passage of the long-awaited National Land Policy.
This comes amid rising tensions over land ownership, disputes, and rampant land grabs across the country.
Speaking to journalists at a press conference held in Juba, Dorothy Drabuga, the chairperson of the South Sudan Land Alliance (SSuLA), underlined the significance of implementing the strategy to address South Sudan’s ongoing land-related difficulties.
“For nearly 20 years, South Sudanese communities have waited for a land policy that safeguards their rights, reduces conflict, and unlocks development opportunities,” Drabuga stated.
“With Parliament set to reopen, we urge lawmakers to act boldly and make the National Land Policy a top legislative priority,” she added.
She urged parliament to approve the land policy quickly by committing financial and technical resources for its implementation and ensuring that the policy meets international standards.
“The National Land Policy represents more than legislation. It is a pathway to peace, equity, and environmental resilience,” she said.
“Failure to act risks deepening land disputes, discouraging sustainable investment, and worsening climate vulnerability.”
The land policy, adopted by the Council of Ministers on October 27, 2023, and tabled to the TNLA on November 21, 2024, is awaiting MPs’ input.
She emphasizes the need to have a comprehensive framework to guarantee land tenure, settle land disputes, and advance sustainable development, especially for women, youth, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples.
Since the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the 2011 independence of South Sudan, land disputes have been a dominant concern of many South Sudanese.
This has been particularly acute in the capital, Juba, where land disputes have impacted people’s ability to return home after wartime displacement.
A recent clash in Munuki, Juba, between members of the Episcopal Church and local residents over disputed church land drew national attention.
Church leaders accused state officials of land grabbing, while the community claimed the church’s land title was forged. Authorities have since suspended land allocations in the area pending investigation.
