House demolished in Rumbek town. | Photo: Courtesy.

The government of Lakes State said it will compensate those affected by the recent demolition in Rumbek that saw about 400 houses flattened.

The houses were forcefully demolished in what the government said is an implementation of a 2021 Governor’s Forum resolution that called for the vacation of school properties by illegal occupants.

William Koji, the state information minister said the displaced will be allocated land in different areas based on their willingness.

“They will be given different places if they are willing to have their own places,” he told Eye Radio.

When asked whether the government will also compensate for the demolished houses, Koji said he has no comment.

“Whether they had documents or not, these were fake documents because whoever claimed that, that land belongs to him or to her and selling that land, the person has no right to sell that land before even looking for documentation.”

“I don’t know if there were properties destroyed, the demolition was only on the building. I do not have any comment about that.”

The exercise began in the middle March, after the civilians reportedly failed to honor the deadline of an ultimatum to leave the area. The ultimatum expired in January last year.

But the civilians left homeless by the exercise reportedly protested and clashed with security forces in an incident that resulted in the shooting of two people – one of whom has passed away.

The national Minister of General Education Awut Deng Acuil said in 2022 that several secondary schools including Juba Day, Juba Girls, Supiri, and other schools have been encroached upon.