A land rights advocacy group is urging the newly appointed governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state to prioritize an investigation into the disappearance of key residential survey maps in Wau town, warning the loss could jeopardize urban development and essential public services.
Alfred Angok Uliny, executive director of the Alliance for Land Rights South Sudan, called on Governor Sherif Danel Sherif to take immediate action, citing the importance of the maps for town planning and land management.
An internal memo dated August 28, 2025, and signed by Emilio Fada Alexander, director general at the Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities, confirmed that at least 10 survey maps for residential and investment areas are missing.
Ministry officials believe the documents disappeared in 2021 during early preparations for a town development project launched after President Salva Kiir announced a 60-kilometer tarmac road initiative for the state capital.
The missing maps reportedly cover areas including Baryar, Al Darajat, Eastern Bank, Jabel Rabeh, Aweil Jedid Extension, the Railways block, Khorgana, and Bazia Jedid. The loss of these documents is raising concerns among urban planners and government officials, who say it could delay housing development, land allocation, and infrastructure expansion in Wau.
In response to the growing concerns, the state government established a special investigation committee led by Udera Dominic Batista, with Philip Ilario Pio serving as secretary.
The committee also includes members John Ilario, Lino John Mangu, Arkangelo Philip Amato, Paulino Obath, and Ngor Kuc. It was tasked with tracing the whereabouts of the maps and providing a report within two weeks of its formation. However, no official findings have been made public.
“This issue falls under our mandate,” Uliny said. “We advocate for land and natural resource rights across South Sudan. If these maps are not recovered, those areas may not receive vital services like electricity or water supply, as they won’t be properly integrated into the town’s master plan.”
Uliny also urged the Ministry of Housing to modernize its documentation practices by digitizing land records to prevent future losses.
Peter Deng Mathew, the state minister of Housing and Public Utilities, confirmed the disappearance of the maps and acknowledged the delay in the committee’s report.
“When I assumed office, I found this issue already ongoing,” Mathew said. “I met with the Director of Survey and other staff and began reviewing ministry files. A committee was formed, headed by the Director General. They were supposed to submit their findings this week, but due to a funeral among committee members, the report was postponed until next week.”
Mathew called for public patience and stressed that the ministry is working diligently to recover the missing documents. He added that if the files cannot be located, the ministry may resort to legal avenues to retrieve copies or reconduct surveys.