By Philip Buda Ladu
Central Equatoria State (CES) Security Committee has officially suspended all land demarcation activities in Nyamini area, citing ongoing border disputes among communities in Dollo, Jebel Lado, Tijor, and Kuda Lo Dimi, Payams.
With effect from this week, the decisive action aims at preventing further conflict and facilitate a peaceful resolution before any development proceeds.
The suspension follows a resolution passed during a weekly, ordinary security meeting, held on Tuesday at the State Secretariat, chaired by the Deputy Governor, Paulino Lukudu Obede.
To enforce the directive, a team from the Security Committee conducted an on-ground assessment in Nyamini, where they immediately halted all demarcation exercise, the office of the governor has reported.
Speaking from the site, the State Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency, Leon Abe Brown, clarified the committee’s stance to the media.
“This move is in line with Resolution No. 15 of the State Security Meeting and the Gubernatorial Order suspending all Community Development Committees (CDCs),” he stated.
He emphasized that the suspension is not intended to obstruct development, but rather to “allow room for an inclusive and peaceful settlement before any further activities are undertaken.”
He further added that “No demarcation should proceed without official authorization from the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Public Utilities or the Commissioner of Juba County.”
Minister Abe confirmed that community leaders and representatives from the disputing areas will be summoned to the office of the Juba County Commissioner to deliberate on a sustainable and peaceful way forward.
Beside the land disputes, Minister Abe also highlighted other critical issues addressed by the State Security Committee.
The minister noted that the committee directed the State Ministry of Health to initiate a comprehensive review of health facilities in Juba, in collaboration with the National Ministry of Health and Juba City Council, to urgently improve healthcare services.
Furthermore, Hon. Abe called upon security agencies to intensify operations against criminal youth gangs, commonly known as “Niggas” and “Torontos,” and to bolster efforts aimed at curbing drug abuse among young people within the capital.
Meanwhile, the area security commander reported that the situation in Nyamini remains calm following the intervention. Security forces on the ground have been tasked with rigorously enforcing the suspension of all land-related activities until further notice from the State Government.
Early this month, fresh land disputes emerged in Lado Payam, Juba County with Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor Community calling on the state government to stop the Land Demarcation in the Nyamini that was announced for public allotment and purchase.
The previous week, a group of elders, chiefs from the Bari Community, declared land demarcation in Nyamini area for 22,700 plots of land for residential and investment purposes.
The Bari community from Nyamini and Lodimi announced that the local Chiefs, women and youth as well as county leaders, have all agreed that Nyamini area be allotted as Nyamini City to all South Sudanese.
However, in a statement extended to the media, Nyangwara-Pojulu Tijor community said the land being distributed is still under dispute between their community and Kuda Lodimi community and they called for an immediate halt to the land demarcation exercise.
Meanwhile in a local order dated No.2/2025, Emmanuel Tete Ezbon, the Commissioner of Juba County ordered an indefinite halt to all land demarcation exercises in Nyamini area, Lado Payam, until an amicable resolution is reached among the conflicting communities over the area.