Juba, 29 July 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the University of Juba and supported by the European Union, convened a landmark public lecture on managing housing, land, and property rights in South Sudan, highlighting their vital role in supporting long-term recovery for displaced communities.
The event brought together 300 participants from academia, government, civil society, and the international community to foster dialogue on sustainable land management and how it can help create pathways toward stability and self-reliance.
“For so many families in South Sudan, reclaiming a home or a piece of land is the first step on their journey out of displacement,” said Vijaya Souri, IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission. “Each claim represents a family striving to rebuild – restoring these rights is key to establishing a more secure future for themselves and the generations to come.”
With over two million South Sudanese still living in protracted displacement and thousands more returning from Sudan due to the ongoing conflict, land and property issues remain critical barriers to return, local integration, and resettlement. Without secure access to land, families cannot rebuild homes, grow food, or invest in their futures.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba, Prof. Robert Mayom, highlighted the unique opportunity that universities have to contribute meaningfully to the national dialogue on land rights and development.
The public lecture featured panel discussions that examined current legal and social barriers to land access, explored community-based dispute resolution mechanisms, and underscored the need for coordinated policy and legal reform.
This initiative is part of IOM’s broader efforts to strengthen awareness and protection of housing, land and property rights, and enhancement of land management systems which are central to helping displaced people rebuild their lives. Through legal aid, community outreach, and institutional support, IOM collaborates with government and local actors to support voluntary return and secure land tenure across South Sudan.
Secure access to land is a fundamental building block for recovery, peacebuilding, livelihood opportunities and long-term development. It is also a key commitment under the UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, which calls for stronger action to resolve displacement through sustainable, locally led solutions.
For more information, please contact IOM South Sudan’s Public Information at isspi@iom.int, Tel: 0912380115