By Yiep Joseph
Central Equatoria State government has formed a committee to investigate a chronic land dispute, in Munuki.
St. Stephen Church and some residents, are in persistent land conflict, which prompted the state government to halt any allotment exercise in the area.
One of the violent clashes over land, occurred last week, between members of Episcopal Church of South Sudan and residents of Gezira area in Juba’s Munuki neighbourhood.
In order to stop continued disharmony, Central Equatoria state governor, Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani has formed a committee to investigate the root cause of the dispute.
According to a statement extended to the media, the governor formed a nine-member committee, headed by Advisor on Legal Affairs and deputized by Minister of Cabinet Affairs.
Other members include representative from National Security Service / ISB, CES Directorate and State Police Service.
“The Governor of Central Equatoria State on Monday issued Gubernatorial Orders Suspending land demarcation activities and formation of State Ad-hoc Committee tasked to investigate the root causes behind land disputes between the administration of St. Stephen Church and residents of Hai Gezira in Munuki Block B” the statement reads in part.
Apart from investigating the root cause of the conflict, the committee is also tasked to identify individuals involved in the dispute, among others.
The state Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities and other relevant authorities are directed to ensure the order, is implemented.
According to the order, the committee is expected to submit its report to the office of the governor.
“To render its investigation report to the Office of the Governor, Central Equatoria State within twenty-one (21) working days” the statement continued.
The disagreement between the church and the residents over ownership of the land, is an overdue matter.
Recently, St. Stephen- Munuki, Parish priest, Rev. Paul Samuel Paul, accused Central Equatoria state government of demolishing Church structure in an attempt to seize the property.
However, the community and state officials denied the allegations, instead they accuse the church of forging land title.
Meanwhile, last week, Church members entered a neighbouring property, removed a fence and covered a newly dug pit latrine, violent manner. This triggered the residents responded by throwing stones and forced the church members to retreat until police arrived.
Ironically, chairperson of Gezira residential area, Benjamin Bali, in his address to the media, accused the Church of organizing a demonstration, with participants wearing black clothing, which he said, alarmed the residents.
“The church decided to call their clerics and mothers at night to come here in the morning to demonstrate, and that everyone should put on a black cloth. I don’t know what they meant, whether they were coming to kill or to pray,” Bali said.
He blamed the church for instigating the violence.
“When they came, the Church women found someone had constructed his fence and immediately started to remove the bamboo material and covering the latrine hole. That is what angered the community and prompted the fighting,” Bali stressed.
The are Chairperson urged residents to remain calm while pursuing legal action against those who damaged property.
The primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Justin Badi Arama, denied any intent to confront the government but accused officials of land grabbing. He announced a month of prayer and fasting over the dispute.