South Sudan Undersecretary Highlights Challenges and Efforts in Ensuring Women’s Land Rights

In a recent statement, Louis Kout, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Housing, Lands, and Urban Development, shed light on the challenges facing South Sudan’s legal system regarding women’s land rights and ownership.

Kout emphasized that women’s land rights in urban areas of South Sudan are well established, with women being treated equally to men in terms of access to residential and agricultural land. He highlighted the constitutional provisions and Land Act that clearly stipulate women’s rights to own, inherit, and control land.

“Our Constitution is very clear that there is no segregation of land ownership, and all relevant laws, including the land policy, uphold women’s rights to land ownership,” stated Kout.

However, Kout also acknowledged the existing difficulties, particularly in the realm of customary law, where some practices fall short of ensuring women’s full rights as outlined in international agreements.

“Customary laws in South Sudan sometimes do not provide women with their complete rights, especially in terms of inheritance,” Kout explained, noting the ongoing efforts to align legal frameworks with customary practices in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare.

“We are working on harmonizing family and inheritance laws to bridge the gap between official documents and customary policies,” Kout assured, highlighting the government’s commitment to addressing these discrepancies and promoting gender equality in land rights.

The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development’s collaborative approach with other government entities signifies a step towards enhancing women’s empowerment and ensuring their full participation in land ownership and control.