The Unity State Ministry of Land and Housing on Tuesday organized two-day conference to discuss land rights following spike in cases of land grabbing and conflicts.
William Dak Koy, the Unity State Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency said that the South Sudan Land Act 2009 should be adhered to in order to avoid land grabbing.
He said that land conflicts have risen due to local conflicts that pushed out hundreds of people from their land over the years.
“Many people abandoned their land due to conflicts but they have found people occupying their land as they return,” Dak said.
“If someone occupied your land in your absence and you have documents, please report to the ministry,” he added.
The Director General of the Unity State Ministry of Land and Housing, Paul Gak said that they are receiving many cases involving land disputes, adding that they are working hard to solve them.
He said that so far they have registered 112,329 returnees in Rubkona County and Leer County.
Unity State is among the States hosting returnees and Sudanese refugees who fled ongoing fighting in neighboring Sudan since mid-April 2023.
Several local residents who spoke during the conference accused County Commissioners of acting with impunity outside their mandate by surveying land.
The conference is being attended by state ministers and county commissioners from the seven counties of Unity State.
