“It’s Easier to Get Land in Khartoum Than Juba” – Prof. John Akech Slams South Sudan’s Land Policy

“It is easier for a South Sudanese to get land in Khartoum than in Juba,” Prof. Akech declared, drawing sharp attention to the land crisis in the capital. He lamented the widespread land grabbing, skyrocketing property prices, and weak legal enforcement, which he said are making land ownership a distant dream for ordinary citizens.

Prof. Akech noted that a single plot in Juba can sell for over five times its actual value, driven not by market demand but by unregulated dealings and political interference. He emphasized that many landowners find themselves entangled in disputes that take over a decade to resolve, often with little hope of justice from what he called a “shaky” and ineffective judicial system.

The professor’s remarks triggered a wave of reactions from forum participants, many of whom echoed concerns about land corruption, institutional failure, and the high cost of living in Juba. Several speakers at the forum pointed to the urgent need for land reforms, stronger regulatory frameworks, and judicial independence.

The criticism comes at a time when urban expansion, population growth, and investment pressures are increasing demand for land in Juba, fueling illegal land sales and confrontations among claimants.

The Juba Economic Forum continues today, with panels scheduled to discuss governance, public sector reform, and sustainable development, amid rising calls for accountability in both land and economic policy.