A senior Rule of Law Officer at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan has urged the government to provide well framework that will prevent conflict that may arise out of the management of land as a resource.
The senior rule of law officer made this call during the closing day of the draft national land policy evaluation in Juba this week.
Samuel Wambugu, a senior officer at the rule of law section in UNMISS said land is a very important resource and it can also be a driver of conflict if it is not well handled.
“Land is a very important resource. First land can acutely be a driver of conflict if it’s not well handled, but it’s also a key driver of investments which depends on how you will handle it.”
Samuel commended the minister of land for being able to address the existing gaps in managing land in South Sudan.
“Honorable minister, we want to commend you and the government, for taking the issue of land so seriously to be able to address a lot of the existing gaps that we have in the link of the framework, in managing, lands,” he said.
He added that it is an opportunity for South Sudan to ensure issues of land are well addressed in the new constitutions.
“This draft land policy comes at a very timely moment because there are other reforms that are ongoing like the constitution of making process. And I think this is an opportunity for South Sudan to be able to take and to ensure issues land are properly anchored in the new constitution.”
Samuel asked the parliament not to delay with deliberation and passing of the new land policy into law.
The Chairperson of Land and physical Infrastructure and State Boundaries at the Council of States Doctor Aldo Ajou Deng said, as members of parliament, they will make sure that the policy is passed as soon as possible.
Aldo said they would reach out to the chief whip and the lawmakers and get their views on the new policy.
He appreciated the Ministry of Land for making the new policy document that will be presented to the parliament.