The inhabitants of the Jopari residential area in Central Equatoria State’s Juba County have protested alleged grabbing of their land and forced eviction by armed men and urged the state government to intervene.
Jopari is a suburb in the Kapuri residential area in Nyarjua Boma of Juba County’s Luri Payam, west of Juba City. The area, like other parts of Juba, has been a scene of violent land disputes.
Recently, Central Equatoria State authorities issued an order halting land allocations in parts of Juba over controversy and disputes.
Several residents of the affected area told Radio Tamazuj over the weekend that armed men started illegally surveying and allocating plots of land in their area since 7 July, forcing them to flee.
Khamis Othow, an affected resident, said several inhabitants have been left homeless.
“I acquired my land a few years ago and joined the rest of the residents who have been there since 2007; however, recently some people stormed our residence, surveying our lands for themselves,” he said. “The tension escalated on Friday afternoon when these grabbers came with some soldiers and started opening fire into the air and arresting people.”
“An Ethiopian shopkeeper and two people constructing a shop for me were arrested and taken to Gudele Two police post without any charges,” Othow added.
Another resident, John Luka, who is also the local chief, said they are now homeless and reiterated the call for government intervention.
“We have been in Jopari since 2007, but we are now left homeless,” he lamented. “Some people came and said that they are surveying the area while allotting plots to others and not us.”
The area chief said they have filed a complaint with local government authorities and urged immediate action.
For his part, Emmanuel Subek, the Nyarjua Boma secretary, said they are aware of the issue, condemned it, and that a lawsuit has been filed to halt the ongoing illegal survey.
“Jopari residential area is under our custody as Nyarjua Boma, and those living there are under our authority. However, in 2018, a neighboring community sought government approval without our consent and started surveying the land for themselves and others, excluding those who have been there since 2007,” Subek explained. “When the complaint reached us, we reported to the county commissioner and the lands ministry without a response, hinting at a possibility of foul play.”
He said that they urged the affected residents to remain calm.
“Instead of taking the law into our hands, we hired lawyers and filed a civil case with a Juba court, seeking to halt the ongoing illegal survey and hold to account those responsible,” he stated. “On Monday, we shall have a court session on this matter. Legally, things are moving well.”
Efforts to reach Juba County Commissioner Emmanuel Tete Ezbon were futile.