Top gov’t and security officials interfering with efforts to curtail land grabbing, says Juba commissioner

JUBA, OCTOBER 24, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The commissioner of Juba County Charles Joseph Wani has told members of the state parliament that government officials are undermining efforts of his government to curtail land-grabbing activities in Juba.

Speaking during a summon by MPs on Monday at the state legislative assembly, Wani said senior officials of both the national and state government usually interfere with his work by releasing suspected land-grabbers, noting that suspected criminals involved in land grabbing are heavily armed.

“[The Challenges are] the release of those sentenced in prison by their close relative in government, land grabbers are well armed with heavy weapons and ammunition, interference and support given to the land grabbers by top officials in the government and security sectors, and the continued ambushes on the highways,” he said.

“Yes there are arrest made so far by the security apparatuses apprehending both senior security officers and senior government officials in the civil services, those arrested are taken to court of law and sentenced to six months maximum and three months minimum in prison but unfortunately, those arrested and taken to prison are later found to have been released with clear evidence of order, these means that there are individual who are high ranking officials in the government supporting criminal activities,” he added.

Wani further said that his government had previously issued circular to all local government institutions concerned with land issues and also deployed hundreds of joint security elements to curb land disputes and crimes but said there has no been improvement in the situation.

The remarks by Juba County Commissioner comes days after the deputy inspector general of police, General Thomas Jal Thomas, said senior officers of the organized forces are involved in the land grabbing activities in Juba.

The country’s police spokesman Major-General Daniel Justin Bula stated at the time that six people were killed and others wounded during clashes between security forces and land grabbers in Kworijik Boma of Juba County in which 53 suspects were apprehended.

“The police managed to arrest 53 suspects. We suspect that they are land grabbers,” he stated at the time.

The post Top gov’t and security officials interfering with efforts to curtail land grabbing, says Juba commissioner appeared first on Sudans Post.