Angelina Teny says major concern is to rescue human life, not Sudd Wetland

JUBA – South Sudan’s Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs Angelina Jany Teny has told experts that the major concern as of now is about how to rescue human life, but not to protect the Sudd Wetland.

Teny made the remarks on Wednesday during the fourth day of public consultation that was ordered by President Salva Kiir Mayardit following public outcry over government plans to dredge Nam River of weed that would have otherwise been conducted without feasibility study.

Speaking to the audience, Teny who is also the chairperson of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) committee for security and defense said the experts should value human lives more than the Sudd Wetland.

“When you’re concerned for environment it means you’re concerned for the lives and the livelihood of people. That means the life of flood-affected communities should be the major concern at the moment not Sudd Wetland,” the senior government official said.

NOT STOPPING DREDGING

Speaking during the closing session of the public consultation, information minister Michael Makuei Lueth told experts that the government is not suspending its dredging initiative despite the recommendation of halt to dredging-related activities along the Nile by the forum until when an evidence-based study is done.

“Yes, secretariat, what are your appropriate words to replace (dredging) because you have stated that you are stopping the (dredging), isn’t?” Makuei asked. “But we are not stopping the dredging, if we are to use the correct terminology, as it was stated by the expert.”

The senior government official further said that: “What we are saying is, dredging, the way we understood it, means cleaning.”