The commissioner of Wau County in Western Bahr el Ghazal state has urged authorities to intervene in a growing land dispute, accusing residents displaced from neighboring Jur River County of attempting to claim land in Bazia Payam.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday from Bazia Jedid, Wau County Commissioner Michael Geba said communities from Mapel, Watholelo, Majiu, Achar and surrounding areas in Jur River County should refrain from occupying land that he said belongs to Wau County.
Geba alleged that people displaced by recent violence involving Ambororo nomads had moved into the area and were now claiming ownership of land in Bazia Payam.
He called on the state government to intervene and urged Jur River County Commissioner Santino Manud Akec to take action to prevent further tensions.
“Let the state government immediately intervene to stop issues bringing insecurity. Now there is a problem between the civilians of Kpale and internally displaced persons from Jur River County. If we do not stand firmly, this will bring insecurity to the area of Kpale,” Geba said.
According to Geba, the dispute emerged after recent clashes between Ambororo herders and members of the Luo community in the Mapel area.
“The problem is because of the insecurity that happened in Mapel. People fled to that area as internally displaced persons and the local civilians cooperated with them and welcomed them, but now they want to turn the area into part of Jur River County, and this is unacceptable,” he said.
Efforts to reach Jur River County Commissioner Santino Manud Akec for comment were unsuccessful.
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