Land Act Awareness Initiative
A two-day workshop in Abyei Administrative Area introduced villagers to key articles of South Sudan’s 2009 Land Act. Officials say understanding the text is essential as survey teams prepare maps that will shape housing, roads and health facilities.
Community Ownership Clarified
Article 7 affirms that land belongs to communities, yet must be managed in the public interest. Information Minister Yuohna Akol noted that some residents equated ownership with total autonomy, fuelling boundary disputes and unplanned construction across several counties.
Government’s Planning Mandate
Akol stressed that orderly layouts allow authorities to deliver clinics, schools and markets. “People fear losing plots, but demarcation protects everyone,” he told local radio. The ministry plans to replicate the briefing in all payams once farming season ends.
Traditional Leaders’ Perspective
Paramount Chief Bulabek Deng Kuol welcomed the campaign, recalling that grassroots outreach had been scarce since 2009. He argued that mapping during the dry season will spare farms and cattle tracks, adding that clear borders reduce friction among neighbouring clans.
Youth Engagement and Next Steps
Youth leader Chol Lual vowed to spread the word in villages. He highlighted new knowledge on inheritance rights and the protection of widows’ access to land. Follow-up sessions will pair surveyors with local guides to ensure customary landmarks remain respected.