Abyei uncovers widespread irregularities in land acquisition

July 14, 2010 (WUNROK) — An investigation team formed last month by the newly appointed head of physical infrastructure in Abyei has discovered that at least 108 open space plots out of 159 surveyed sites were illegally occupied.

Kon Manyith, head of physical infrastructure, told Sudan Tribune from Abyei that the discovery in discriminatory change of land use plans in the town could not have been possible without the patronage of corrupt officials, some known to have issued land occupancy documents to family members.

He said that the rampant illegal acquisition of land in Abyei was an organized plan by individuals he declined to name, adding there is evidence of open space grabbing and revealed that 56 out of 98 open space sites visited in the town were taken for different uses.

“You find that an open area have been found marked by unknown individuals without the knowledge of the relevant authorities,” Manyith said.

“I commend the team because within 25 days of intense probe from June 18 to July 13, it probed the matter and compiled this thick report with proposals that will be used to address the situation,” he added.

The team drew its members from the police force, army, prisons, land officers, city planning office and academics.

The first step towards restoration of the snatched land, he said, would be to hold an urgent meeting with members of the regional security and defense committee prior to legal and disciplinary action against people behind the racket.

“This is the first report ever that is seriously addressing land problems in the area since formation of Abyei administration three years ago. I am not surprised to hear that land grabbing rampant in other areas is extended to Abyei. But one thing for sure is that both legal and disciplinary measures will be taken against all culprits,” he said.

After learning about massive cheating and double allocation of land in Abyei early last month, the official formed two separate probe teams. The first surveyed the three areas of the residential town of Mul Mul, Hai Kanisa, and Gongbial presenting the findings on Tuesday.

The second team of inquiry was assigned with the mandate of gathering information from office files in various land departments to uncover tricks involved in changing land use and ownership. The team is also scheduled to present its report on Thursday.

Sources from within the team revealed that indiscriminate forgery of signatures and stamps facilitated the illegal occupation of land.

Some of these places have been turned into department stores gradually taken under the pretext of being a political party project, some with guest houses, filling stations and local markets, the source revealed.

It was further learnt that among the recommendations, was the immediate demolition of structures coupled with legal measures against “owners” together with land officials who assisted on the cheat.

Previously, the authorities from the area said that police had interrogated a dozens of people in connection with the land fraud in Abyei.

More people were lined up for questioning, but the administration declined to disclose the number, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted after completion of investigations.

It all started when former chief administrator, Brigadier Arop Moyak suspended some Land Officers and other officials accused to have stalled administrative attempts to conduct investigations on land and financial related frauds.

Many say land officials from physical infrastructure department issued dubious land ownership permits including reserved open space.

(ST)