Participants at the high-level consultative workshop on the Draft National Land Policy. It is under the theme "towards the national land policy of South Sudan and consolidating its implementation." | Credit: Eye Radio/Charles Wote

A consultative workshop to scrutinize the recently passed draft land policy has commenced with the Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development calling on the lawmakers to back the document.

The ongoing two-day consultative workshop organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FOA to seek views on the policy, brought together the relevant parliamentary committees, and the Ministers of Land, Investment, Livestock and Fisheries.

The draft policy with a clause specifying that land is owned by the people and not the communities in South Sudan, was passed on October 27, 2023, by the Council of Ministers and will soon be tabled before the August House for enactment.

It was developed to establish a sustainable framework for allocating and protecting collective and individual land rights for all the people of South Sudan.

This is in a bid to address conflicting views about land ownership and governance in the country.

The policy articulates processes for access and ownership, control, administration, use, and sustainable management of land to meet core national governance and development objectives.

Speaking at the opening of the consultative meeting, Land Minister Michael Chenjiek said the policy went through two amendments.

It was changed from All lands are owned by the people of South Sudan as a Nation, communities, and as individuals to All Lands in the country is owned by the people of South Sudan and its usage shall be regulated by the government of South Sudan.

According to Chenjiek, the changes were made to rhyme with the stipulation of the interim constitution to avoid contradiction.

The other amendment stated that the state authorities which is the second tier of the country shall manage and administrate the land per the laws and regulations issued by the national government.

He argued that the amendment will both the interest of national and state governments, citing that the insecurity across South Sudan was caused due to mismanagement of the land.

Chiengjiek believes that the new policy will address these concerns and pave the way for investment in the country.

He urges the MPs to support the document to bring an end to land-related conflict.

“The policy is now before you, I am asking you to look at it so our MPs support it so that we move out from this method we are having,” said Chiangjiek.

“Let our people educate themselves to have a policy. So, after this policy, I urge you to also look at the act and see if there are things we need to amend within the act, we can do it,” he said.

“Today consultation will be reactions among ourselves and later on the final say is now left with you.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Investment Dhieu Mathok believes the draft policy once passed into law will boost the economy of the country.

“We hope that when this policy is passed by the parliament and the act is amended, the land act of 2009 is amended at least the investors then will get the opportunity to be part of that population this is where we can boost our economy,” said Dhieu.

“We can have investors come into this country because their concern now is that they come and ask about the land and we don’t have it now, we tried,” he said.

On his part, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Onyoti Adgo Nyikuac describes the consultation as very important and suggested that the draft document is subjected to at least three public consultations before it is tabled before the parliament.

“Let us think critically as it goes to parliament, you will be inviting people also and tell the members,” said Onyoti.

“We need public hearings you need at least two or three public hearings, this is where the community comes to help in what we are doing and when there is anything later on we say the community was involved, especially civil societies,” he said.