South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The government of Central Equatoria State (CES) has reaffirmed its exclusive authority over land demarcation and allocation, urging communities to avoid any unauthorized land activities.
Speaking during a community engagement meeting in Juba on Wednesday, CES Minister of Housing David Morbe Aquilino emphasised that land management is a responsibility reserved solely for government institutions, particularly his ministry.
“We, the government, have a responsibility to organise the country, There is no demarcation or land allotment that can happen in this state without the knowledge and approval of the Ministry of Housing.” said Aquilino
He emphasised that any land planning or allocation must be conducted by government engineers and planners, not local communities or individuals. “If any community wants to carry out demarcation or land allotment, they must go through the proper channels. It is not the role of the community—it is the role of the government,” he said.
Addressing persistent rumours of informal land allocation in some urban areas, Aquilino dismissed any suggestion that local bodies have legal authority over such matters.
“I have not seen any community in Central Equatoria State legally responsible for land allocation,” he asserted. “Unless that land has not been handed over to the government, no one else can carry out allotments. Once land is submitted to us, it becomes our responsibility.”
He further clarified the procedure for communities willing to allocate land. “If a community is ready to allocate land, it is the Ministry that will initiate communication. We will write to them, and once we have the green light, we proceed with the process.”
In response to growing confusion about roles and impersonation within government functions, Aquilino offered a pointed reminder: “Let me be clear—no one can pretend to be the government. If someone claims that role, then what are we doing in our offices? We are all part of the government because it is formed by the citizens. But each of us has a defined role.”
He acknowledged the cooperative spirit shown by participants in the meeting and expressed hope for improved land governance. “We thank you for sharing your concerns openly. We have agreed that land management must be reorganised. Change is happening—whether we like it or not.”
Aquilino called for collective action to address the longstanding issue of land grabbing, which he said has had destabilising effects on the region.
“This area has faced land grabbing challenges for a long time, and it has caused insecurity. We want to resolve it once and for all. Only then can we focus on other critical development needs.”
