JUBA – The government of South Sudan has finalized its long-awaited national land policy, a senior official has confirmed, which is an important step toward strengthening land governance in the country.
Speaking during the close of a three-day national land management workshop in Juba on Wednesday, Land Commission Chairperson Robert Lado Loki said the policy is designed to streamline land administration, clarify ownership rights, and guide the sustainable use of land across both urban and rural areas.
“Land is a source of conflict in most parts of the world. In South Sudan, we have classified land into public, private, and community land; land is owned by the people and regulated by the state,” he said.
Lado warned that the lack of an enabling legal framework is opening the door to corruption, land grabbing, and unchecked investor activity.
The Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Vijaya Souri, stated that proper land governance is a basis for stability and opportunity across the country.
“Without effective dispute resolution and trusted institutions, durable solutions remain fragile and incomplete. Across the country, land governance continues to sit at the intersection of statutory and customary systems,” Souri said.
Souri noted that the dialogue on land management reflected a shared commitment to addressing one of the challenges facing South Sudan’s transition from conflict to stability.
“Land in South Sudan is far more than a physical resource; it is closely tied to identity, livelihood, governance, and social cohesion. An effective land system can only be built through clear mandates, strong institutions, and sustained cooperation across all levels of government.”
Massimo Scalorbi, the Head of Cooperation for the Delegation of the European Union to South Sudan, stated that unlocking the country’s agricultural potential is difficult without security of land rights.
“When land rights are unclear, when ownership is contested, and when people are displaced without respect for land tenure security, tensions rise and communities are divided. Land management is not only essential for immediate stability but also for the country’s long-term economic development,” Scalorbi said.
South Sudan drafted its National Land Policy alongside the Land Act in 2009. Currently, the country relies on the pre-independence act, with each state having its own land policies, laws, and regulations.
Following independence in 2011, land policies were reviewed by parliament. However, in 2014, the Ministry of Lands withdrew the draft National Land Policy, citing its shortcomings and requesting further revisions.
Land disputes have been a major concern since 2005 and South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
These disputes are particularly prevalent in Juba and other major towns, often leading to violent conflicts, deaths, and displacements.
