By Baraka John
When a loved one dies in South Sudan, the pain of loss is often followed by another kind of struggle, ranging from confusion over property, inheritance, and financial rights. A new report shows that for the vast majority of families, this uncertainty is the norm.
According to a 2025 study by the Organization for Liberty and Entrepreneurship (OLENT), an NGO based in Yambio, 92% of South Sudanese do not have written wills. This leaves families vulnerable to disputes, exploitation, and even complete loss of property after a death.
At a high-level policy dialogue held in Juba under the theme “Ending Family Property Disputes,” stakeholders from law enforcement, banks, and civil society gathered to discuss the findings. The research revealed that nine out of ten people without wills leave behind no documentation, making it nearly impossible for their families to claim property or bank accounts.
For many, the consequences are deeply personal. Families often find themselves entangled in disputes between relatives, struggling with unresponsive banks, or left without access to money urgently needed for survival.
David Benjamin, OLENT’s Executive Director, explained that the study drew from the real-life experiences of 279 South Sudanese who had faced such challenges. Two-thirds of them were men, reflecting the country’s patriarchal traditions, but women often the most affected by inheritance disputes were also represented.
“This report paints a troubling picture of the legal and financial limbo faced by thousands of families,” Benjamin said. “We urgently need civic education and reforms so that people understand the importance of wills and next-of-kin documentation.”
Surprisingly, the problem is not confined to the uneducated. Nearly half of those affected had completed secondary school, and almost a third had tertiary education, yet many still lacked awareness of their inheritance rights.
Banks also came under scrutiny. The report shows that 95% of banks in South Sudan fail to inform families about dormant accounts or inheritance rights, leaving widows, children, and relatives locked out of financial assets.
Visiting policy analyst Stephen Dansu from Ghana emphasized that this is not just a legal issue but also an economic one. With an estimated 92% of South Sudanese already living below the extreme poverty line, being denied rightful access to inherited property or savings only deepens hardship.
“When families are stripped of what should legally be theirs, the cycle of poverty only worsens,” Dansu noted. “But with reforms and awareness, we can give families the tools to protect their future.”
OLENT’s research, conducted across seven states including Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Unity, and Upper Nile calls for urgent government action. Recommendations include nationwide civic education campaigns, reforms to banking procedures, and a national inheritance framework led by the Ministry of Justice in partnership with civil society.
As the dialogue concluded, one message was clear: without urgent action, thousands of South Sudanese families will continue to suffer in silence, fighting battles not only with grief but also with a system that leaves them unprotected.