The directive, issued on July 18 by Ngauro Chief Administrator Lopoyok Augustino Jervase, follows what the administration described as a growing trend of people “illegally occupying, surveying, demarcating, allocating, and developing land” without government approval.
In the administrative order, Jervase said the unauthorised activities “undermine lawful land administration, interfere with physical planning, fuel land disputes, and threaten peace, security, and orderly development.”
To curb the practice, the administration announced that “all forms of illegal land grabbing, unauthorised occupation, surveying, demarcation, allocation, and development of land without prior written approval from the competent Government authority are strictly prohibited throughout the Ngauro Administrative Area.”
The order further bars individuals, institutions, traditional authorities and government officials from carrying out land-related activities outside established government procedures.
“No individual, institution, traditional authority, or Government official shall occupy, demarcate, allocate, or develop land outside the established Government procedures. Any such action shall be considered unlawful and shall not be recognised by the Government,” the order states.
Authorities also instructed anyone currently engaged in illegal land acquisition to immediately halt their activities.
“Any person found engaging in illegal land grabbing or unauthorised land acquisition shall immediately cease such activities and shall be liable to appropriate administrative and legal action in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Sudan,” Jervase warned.
The directive places particular responsibility on public officials to safeguard public and community land, cautioning them against facilitating unauthorised land dealings.
“Government officials and public servants are reminded to uphold the law, protect public and community land, and refrain from participating in or facilitating any unauthorised land activities,” the order says, adding that violators “shall be subject to the appropriate administrative and legal measures.”
To enforce the directive, the chief administrator instructed security agencies, local administrators and traditional authorities to act against illegal land occupation and report offenders.
“All security organs, local administrators, and traditional authorities are directed to enforce this Order impartially, prevent further illegal land grabbing, and report all violations to the Office of the Chief Administrator for appropriate action,” the order reads.
The administrative order took effect immediately, with all residents, institutions and public officials in Ngauro Administrative Area directed to comply fully.
Land disputes remain a recurring source of conflict in many parts of South Sudan, often involving competing claims over public, community and privately occupied land, prompting local authorities to tighten enforcement measures aimed at preventing violence and ensuring orderly urban development.
