![South Sudan lawmaker and former deputy minister of interior Salva Mathok Gengdit. [Photo by Juba Echo]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Mathok.jpg?ssl=1)
This comes after the ministry of water resources and irrigation announced in a statement last June that a 21-truck convoy has arrived to Unity State capital Bentiu from Egypt via Sudan bringing in river dredging machines to clear Nam river of weeds impeding water flow.
In a statement on Wednesday, Gen. Mathok said the initiative and government plans to resume digging of the Jonglei Canal has divided the people of South Sudan and that the parliament should summon the defense and interior ministers to explains suspicions over the machines.
“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 said.
“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. 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 questioned.
He said the situation is developing with rumors and that the parliament should summon the security advisor to the president and the ministers of defense, interior, national security, foreign affairs and the government of the oil-rich Unity state.
“This situation is developing itself with wild rumors 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 added.
