By Hou Akot Hou
Authorities in Aweil Town, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, have issued an ultimatum to individuals with land tokens in the town to process their land title deed within a week’s time.
The Director General at the State Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Mr. Akot Anguei Akot, told this outlet on Wednesday that the ultimatum was issued because some took tokens since 2019 and demonstrated no seriousness in processing their land titles.
The exercise is meant to grant plot owners within the town legal documents to claim land ownership.
He disclosed that they (land applicants) were issued tokens and were expected to turn up to produce only 35,000 SSP to enable them to get the title deeds, which would pave the way for full ownership.
However, Akot said they extended the time frame for the processing of title deeds due to economic turmoil, but they saw that time had elapsed, so they gave the applicants only a week until Tuesday next week.
Mr. Akot said this tight ultimatum is issued to allow the majority of land seekers (applicants) to secure their plots in the town.
“Many people have rendered their applications and shy away from coming to the institution that is legitimate in issuing plots, and as a result, we are forced to give an ultimatum to people who went away with tokens so that they turn up and hurry up in completing the procedures,” he said.
Akot warned that if applicants fail to show up, they will take away the plots and give them to serious, concerned citizens.
He noted that most people have given reasons, which they blame squarely on the economic crisis that prolonged the processing of the tokens to get title deeds.
Authorities in Aweil say that the state saw a growing population due to the flare-up of the conflicts in Sudan.
He added that they (authorities) are entrusted to give land to the landless, which is one of the reasons for forcing them to give land ownership to those who are most interested.
Some residents in Aweil see the ultimatum move as so tight and urge the authorities to extend the period.
Adut Garang Aleu, a tea maker in Aweil town, said it would be good to make it when government employees or civil servants have received their salaries.
“Where do they think we could acquire money to go and get the title deeds as they expect?” she questioned.
“Better they give payments so that we go and get the plots rightfully,” she appealed.
In South Sudan, land is said to be under the jurisdiction of the community and controlled or governed by the government.