SPLA Officers Accused of Leasing Community Land Without Permission

October 15, 2008 (JUBA) – Community leaders in Nimule, Eastern Equatoria, are accusing some Sudan People’s Liberation Army officers of allocating community land without consulting them.

Speaking to Sudan Radio Service by phone from Nimule, the Madi Development Community Council chairman, Mr. Venisto Ogido, charges that many landowners are not consulted when lands are allocated or hired out by SPLA officers.

[Venisto Ogido]: “We found out that the army officers have allocated land to the foreigners. These foreigners are from Somali. And then one army officer has given land to foreigner also Somali, renting to him. So we the land owners, we are not consulted.”

He also complained that rent money for the land is not paid to the owners, but to the SPLA officers who made the deals.

Nimule payam administrator Richard Mele also accused army officials of hiring community land to Somali nationals who are doing business along the border with Uganda. He said the land being allocated is in an area called Abila, near the border.

[Richard Mele]: “The problem is in the border between Nimule and Uganda, nearby the custom yard. There is an area which belongs to the community there, Abila. It is in Abila area, near the border.”

Mr. Mele added that a committee was formed to look into the matter last week.

He said land owners demonstrated in Nimule to demand an explanation on the land allocation issue. They attempted to march to Abila, but were blocked by soldiers. Mr. Ogido said some protestors were arrested but later released.

When asked for comment, Sudan People’s Liberation Army spokesman in Juba, Maj. General Peter Parnyang, appeared to be familiar with the case as he said the Somalis were given land so that they could start up a petrol station. However, he said he was “unsure” whether the army was involved or not, but said the matter was under investigation.