For over a decade now, more than 9,000 displaced families in Juba’s Hai Malakal Cemetery have called a graveyard home. This is not out of choice, but necessity. Fleeing conflict, skyrocketing rents, and urban displacement. This has been the case since 2013. Single mothers like Achan, who are residents, endured daily hardships: children playing among tombstones, health risks from poor sanitation, and the constant weight of living amid the dead. “We bury our loved ones here, then live with their shadows,” Achan shared. Her words were cutting through the humid air of a makeshift gathering on September 30, 2025.
This hidden humanitarian crisis, often overshadowed by South Sudan’s larger conflicts, desperately needed a voice. Enter Eye Radio’s sixth Town Hall forum, part of our “Boosting Independent Journalism and Promoting Freedom of Speech” initiative, generously supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Under a canopy of tarps in the cemetery’s heart, 20+ residents—including 12 women and children—convened with community advocates. The discussion broadcast on FM radio and YouTube Live laid bare the failures of urban planning and land rights protections.
Voices rose in urgency. Stories of trauma, futile appeals to authorities, and calls for humane relocation were echoed. “This isn’t just about space—it’s about restoring dignity,” echoed panelists. He was dissecting how weak policies trap vulnerable families in limbo. The forum wasn’t just a mere conversation. It was a bridge to empower the voiceless.
The impact was swift and seismic. Just 48 hours later, on October 1, 2025, South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) passed a pivotal motion. This was to establish a “National Cemetery Management Policy”. Lawmakers, moved by the forum’s testimonies, endorsed a framework to address the “urgent cemetery management crisis” in Juba and beyond. They summoned top land and housing officials for immediate consultations on sustainable solutions. As MP Lok Moto stated, “The establishment of a national policy framework for cemetery management in South Sudan is a critical step toward addressing the urgent cemetery management crisis.”
This victory marks a great turning point. It is elevating the squatters’ plight from whispers to the national agenda. Early consultations are underway. Officials have been tasked to map relocation options and enforce humane protections. This paved the way for families like Achan’s to reclaim stability. “Eye Radio gave us a platform when we felt invisible,” Achan reflected. “Now, our stories are shaping the future.”
Eye Radio’s town halls exemplify journalism’s power to drive change. Since July, we’ve hosted six such sessions, engaging over 100 participants on GBV, police accountability, and IDP rights—thanks to Dutch support. Four more are slated for November, tackling women’s economic empowerment and disability inclusion.
Tune into Eye Radio for live updates, or join our Facebook community for the next forum. In South Sudan, every voice deserves to be heard—and acted upon.
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