20/09/2025
Real Estate Summit 2025: Leaders Call for Reforms to Tackle Land Grabbing in South Sudan
South Sudan Real Estate Summit 2025 Highlights Urgent Call for Reform and Investment
JUBA, 19 September 2025 | Hatim JUBARA – The first-ever Real Estate Summit in South Sudan was successfully held on 18–19 September in Juba, bringing together government officials, investors, financial institutions, and key stakeholders to explore opportunities and challenges in the country’s emerging real estate sector.
Organized by Smart Properties Limited, the two-day summit ran under the theme “Unlocking the Property Potential in Juba.” It attracted policymakers, developers, and international partners eager to discuss housing shortages, land administration reforms, and investment prospects.
Day One – Real Estate Finance and Investment
A panel on “Real Estate Finance and Investment” was moderated by Akol Nyok Akol, featuring representatives from Ecobank, Alpha Commercial Bank, and Equity Bank. The banks expressed readiness to finance projects but flagged challenges in land registration.
In response, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development announced plans to modernize and digitalize land registration systems to streamline property ownership and reduce disputes.
Day Two – Real Estate and Taxation
On the second day, Akol Nyok Akol also moderated a panel on “Real Estate and Taxation,” which brought together the Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA), the South Sudan Chamber of Commerce, a real estate lawyer, and a foreign investor.
The session examined government taxation policies, highlighting the need to balance revenue collection with the creation of an investor-friendly environment to encourage both local and foreign investment.
Government’s Position
Delivering his keynote remarks, Hon. Amb. Joseph Moum Malok, Minister of Investment, underscored that real estate growth must go beyond construction.
“It is about building communities, creating jobs, and laying the foundation for lasting economic growth,” Malok said, pledging government commitment to transparency and reforms that will attract investment.
Industry Perspective
Mr. Malanga Suleman, Operations Manager of Smart Properties, highlighted the company’s ongoing projects in building modern apartments in Juba, saying they are designed to transform urban living while extending opportunities to rural areas.
Mrs. Brenda Mutuku, CEO of Smart Group Properties, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to capacity-building initiatives in real estate, stressing that their mission goes beyond construction to empower communities and strengthen the country’s economic base through sustainable development.
Land Policy Appeal
In a strong appeal, Louis Kwot Akolith, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Urban Development, renewed his call to the national parliament to fast-track the enactment of the South Sudan National Land Policy. He warned that rampant land grabbing and disputes remain a major obstacle to real estate growth and must be urgently addressed.
Closing Call
The summit concluded with a call for swift policy reforms, stronger public-private partnerships, and transparent investment frameworks to unlock the country’s real estate potential and position Juba as a regional hub of modern property development.