Rationalizing urban land allocation policy in Khartoum for sustainable and effective urban planning

Urban development in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, relies on allocation of public land for different urban activities controlled by obscure procedural mechanism and outdated colonial and land allocation laws that has not been reformed for better urban planning outcome. Land in Sudan is allocated for different uses on leasehold basis. The process requires a rational, ethical, operational, sustainable and multi-dimensional criteria of allocation if a good urban planning outcome is to be achieved. It could be noticed that parties, agencies and institutions involved in urban planning and land allocation in Khartoum are doubted of being irrational. The paper first gives a theoretical background on land policies in the development countries. Second, the paper highlights the adopted system of urban land allocation, laws, procedures, processes. Third, the paper discusses the impact on the planning of Khartoum. Fourth and finally, the paper highlights avenues of achieving sustainable, effective land allocation and gives future recommendations for improvements and reform.