Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor Community Condemns Alleged Unlawful Land Grabbing in Nyamini

By Kidega Livingstone

The Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor community has condemned what it describes as unlawful attempts to grab or encroach on Nyamini land, located between Ladu and Dolo Payams in Central Equatoria State.

The community describes Nyamini as an ancestral, cultural, spiritual and historical territory traditionally governed by the Nyangwara people, particularly the Napija Clan of Ku’da Boma and the Nyawara Clan of Sirimon Boma in Dolo Payam.

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, the Secretary-General of the Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor Community, Yapete Mogga Abdalla, said the community remains committed to resolving the dispute peacefully but would continue to defend its ancestral land through lawful means.

“We condemn all unlawful land-grabbing activities and any official or unofficial support that enables them. Continued inaction risks deepening injustice, weakening public trust and threatening peace,” Mogga said.

He called on the Central Equatoria State Government and relevant authorities to intervene in the dispute and ensure that any land-related claims are addressed through legal and peaceful mechanisms.

“We call upon the state government to act decisively, fairly and without delay. We also call on those personnel in army uniform to avoid illegal land-grabbing activities,” he added.

The community’s Secretary for Land and Development, Peter Keliona Wani, said efforts had previously been made to demarcate the Nyamini area during the tenure of former Juba County Commissioner Stephen Wani.

However, he said the process was halted after a dispute emerged, with the parties agreeing to seek an amicable solution before proceeding with demarcation.

“We are following the right direction until we reach the final decision, and after that we shall think of what to do,” Wani said.

Community elder Emmanuel Gore alleged that the land dispute had been influenced by political interests, saying members of the community had previously approached the Ministry of Housing and other relevant authorities to seek clarification and support for the demarcation of the land.

Gore said the community considers the land issue a long-standing matter dating back to the 1950s.

“The land issue started earlier in the 1950s. As a community, we also did what was needed, and we have succeeded. Nyangwara community means the land belongs to us,” he said.

Land disputes remain a sensitive issue in South Sudan, where customary ownership, statutory land laws and competing claims over urban and rural land can sometimes overlap. The Land Act, 2009 recognizes customary land rights, while disputes are expected to be addressed through established legal and administrative mechanisms.

Community leaders have therefore urged the authorities to ensure that land demarcation and allocation processes are transparent, inclusive and based on proper documentation to prevent further disputes.

The Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor community said it remains open to dialogue and peaceful settlement, but warned that failure by authorities to address the Nyamini dispute could deepen tensions between communities and undermine efforts to maintain peace and social cohesion in the area.