Bulldozer demolishing illegal settlement at Lokiri village on orders of Commissioner Charles Joseph Wani. 2022. (Photo: Press Office of the Commissioner).

Authorities in Juba County said they are set to launch an awareness campaign on Monday to will guide citizens on how to acquire land legally.

The campaign will involve state officials explaining the procedures of buying land, in a public service announcement through media houses and public outreach campaigns.

The commissioner of Juba County, Charles Joseph Wani said the awareness drive aims at mitigating land grabbing and ensuring that people seeking land ownership are not cheated.

“The major aim is to reduce the issue of land grabbing, to protect people’s resources which is taking rampantly without any accountability and also not their money into the wrong hand,” said the official in a press statement.

Commissioner Wani said the campaign will pave way for the introduction of land reforms to be announced by the state government.

Conflicts related to land grabbing and unlawful allotment of land involving different actors, are frequently reported in the suburbs of the capital, Juba.

Two weeks ago, three police officers were injured in a gun battle with residents allegedly engaged in unauthorized land survey and distribution of tokens near Gurei residential area.