Ex-oil minister Ezekiel Lol calls for ‘urgent’ clearance of waterways to rescue Unity State residents  

JUBA, APRIL 14, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s former minister of petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, has reversed his position on the river dredging initiative, calling for ‘urgent action’ to rescue citizens of Unity States from floods.

Gatkuoth had previously expressed disagreement with the proposal to clear Naam River of mud and weeds citing negative environmental concerns.

But in a statement while on a visit to Unity State earlier this week, Gatkuoth acknowledged the suffering of the people of Unity State and the upcoming rainy season, which could exacerbate the situation and called for urgent actions to rescue the situation.

“The people of Unity State are really suffering, and the rainy season is approaching, and the water levels are very, very high,” he said.

“So, the government needs to take any urgent action such as to carrying out river clearance, you can call it dredging, but the people of Unity State cannot continue this life,” he said.

The former minister’s previous stance generated controversy, with some accusing him of putting the environment above the needs of the people.

He now admits that the situation has become dire, and something must be done to alleviate the suffering of the people of Unity State.

In July 2022, Gatkuoth made his famous pharase that river dredging is dangerous for South Sudan and that this fact “Ma Deru Science” or “it doesn’t need science.”