Kiir freezes gov’t dredging project indefinitely

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit said Saturday that he was freezing plans that were underway for the dredging of the Nam River “until credible, professional evidence-based studies are carried out on the impact of dredging both on the surrounding communities and their ecosystem.”

Since June, citizens have been crying out after the ministry of water resources and irrigation announced the arrival of dredging machines from Egypt via Sudan in preparation for the dredging of Nam River of weeds impeding water follow.

Senior government officials including the vice presidents have argued that the dredging process would help open up rivers for economic activities and would also help in the mitigation of floods that has affected most parts of the country including Unity State.

Speaking during in his annual message marking Independence Day anniversary, Kiir said opposition arguments between citizens opposition and supporting the project are legitimate and as such should be taken into consideration.

“In the last few weeks, the country has been engaged in an emotive debate over the issue of dredging the Bahr el Ghazal Basin, specifically the Naam River. In this debate, the contending sides have put forward legitimate arguments both for and against dredging,” Kiir said.

He said that “those who support dredging see it as a permanent solution to persistent floods in low lying areas. Others in the same group see it (dredging) as a means of opening our water ways for river transport that will case transportation bottlenecks in the country.”

“On the other side of the debate, dredging without proper studies is viewed as a path to ecological disaster that will change South Sudan’s biodiversity forever,” he said, adding that “This group fears the loss of marshlands which are the lifeline for different animal species and a means of livelihood for our fishermen. In short, this group opposes dredging on the basis of adverse environmental concerns and the anticipated loss of their economic livelihood.”

“Having followed this debate keenly, I realize that this outcry from both sides came because we have not conducted an informed public consultation that addresses the concerns and fears of those groups. These fears and concerns, whether real or perceived can only be overcome through public consultation and the conduct of credible scientific studies of the impact of dredging on the surrounding communities and the SUDD ecosystem.

“It is only after we have done this will our people on both sides of this debate have confidence to support this project.”

Kiir then ordered the dredging initiative to stop pending what he said would be credible risk management studies to better inform government decision to either go ahead with the project as planned.

“To allow our citizens to participate in the consultation process without emotions, I am today freezing any planned dredging activities in the SUDD Region until credible, professional evidence-based studies are carried out on the impact of dredging both on the surrounding communities and their ecosystem,” Kiir said.

“To this effect, I am directing the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to initiate the process of identifying and eventually hiring credible experts who will carry out the said feasibility study,” he added.