Women in South Sudan Still Struggle to Access Land Rights

By Kidega Livingstone

Women across South Sudan continue to face significant challenges in accessing and owning land despite legal provisions that guarantee equal rights, stakeholders have said.

The concerns were raised during a workshop on Mobilizing Grassroots Women to Participate in Advocacy for Women’s Land Rights, organized by the Global Empowerment Poverty Alleviation Organization in Juba on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the Land Alliance said many women remain excluded from land ownership due to cultural practices, limited awareness of land laws, and weak enforcement of existing legal protections.

Executive Director of Women Founder for Humanity, Drabuga Dorothy, said women play a central role in supporting families and agricultural production, yet many are denied the opportunity to own or control land.

“Women are the backbone of families and communities, but many still do not have equal access to land and property ownership,” she said.

Drabuga noted that the challenge is not unique to South Sudan, adding that women in many parts of the world continue to face barriers in securing land rights.

Meanwhile, a representative of the Global Empowerment Poverty Alleviation Organization, Moses, emphasized the importance of recognizing women’s rights within communities.

“Women have the same right as men to own land and property. Communities should support and protect these rights because empowering women contributes to the development of families and society,” he said.

Land rights remain a sensitive issue in South Sudan, where most land is governed under customary tenure systems. Although the Transitional Constitution guarantees women the right to own property and inherit from their deceased husbands, many women continue to face discrimination in inheritance and land ownership matters. The Constitution also requires the government to combat harmful customs and traditions that undermine the dignity and status of women.

South Sudan’s Land Act recognizes customary, freehold, and leasehold tenure systems and provides that customary land rights should have equal legal protection.

However, land rights advocates say greater awareness, legal reforms, and stronger enforcement mechanisms are needed to ensure women can fully enjoy their constitutional rights to land and property.

Participants at the workshop called on government institutions, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and local communities to work together to promote gender equality in land ownership and ensure women are represented in land governance and decision-making processes.