Kiir ally claims dredging machines came with ‘bulletproof’ vehicles

JUBA — A South Sudan lawmaker and member of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party under President Salva Kiir Mayardit has claimed that he has information indicating that bulletproof vehicles were imported from Egypt along with dredging machines.

South Sudan’s ministry of water resources and irrigation announced in June the arrival of dredging machines to Unity State’s capital Bentiu from Egypt via Sudan in preparation for clearance of weeds from Nam River, an important tributary of the River Nile.

In a statement on Wednesday, member of parliament and former deputy minister of interior Gen. Salva a Mathok Gengdit said the dredging initiative and plans to dig the Jonglei canal has divided the people of South Sudan and noted the contradicting statements of senior government officials.

“The digging of the Jonglei Canal and the dredging of the Naam River are major challenges to the leadership of this Nation because it has already divided people’s opinions, some people support it and others are against it,” Gen. Mathok said.

“It’s a serious concern to our people. So many questions are being raised by the people and no answers. The higher level Government officials are contradicting themselves in the media,” he added.

He claimed that he has made a research and was informed by a source which he didn’t identify that there were bulletproof vehicles that came together along with the dredging machines which were not even allowed to be inspected at the border by custom police.

“On the research I made, the heavy machines & equipment to do the dredging are already in Unity State. I was informed by my source that the whole equipment with containers was not allowed to be opened by Customs officers for checking,” he claimed.

“The source confirmed to me that some bulletproof vehicles are in that huge consignment. It’s very suspicious, who is going to use those bulletproof vehicles?” He asked.

He said the “situation is developing itself with wild rumours to the public. It needs to be addressed as quickly as possible to reduce the misinformation and give the correct message to the public.”

He reminded the public that “the country is ours, most of the issues were done while we were under tied slavery, no need to panic. Let us know who is behind this undermining state system. Let’s all work hard to unite our opinions to address this.”