South Sudan’s environmental minister orders ‘illegal’ dredging of Nile tributaries to stop   

JUBA – South Sudan’s minister of environment and forestry Josephine Napwon has ordered the immediate suspension of the dredging project of the Bahr el Ghazal/Naam River until an environmental risk assessment process is done.

Earlier this week, the ministry of water resources and irrigation announced the arrival of a 21-truck convoy from Egypt bringing in equipment for dredging of the Naam River in an apparent attempt to mitigate floods that have affected hundreds of thousands in Unity State.

Speaking to reporters at her ministry’s premise in Juba on Wednesday afternoon, Napwon ordered the suspension of the project until further notice and said any attempt to dredge rivers in the world’s youngest country without environmental risk assessment is illegal.

“I don’t think they will start the project without the environmental assessment. Therefore, since the above process has not commenced, any dredging of the rivers is illegal,” Napwon said.

This came after some members of the public criticized the importation of the equipment from Egypt to dredge Nile tributaries to mitigate floods and the alleged plans for the resumption of Jonglei Canal.

On 1^st June, 21 trucks loaded with equipment and tools arrived in Bentiu from Egypt through Sudan.

After receiving the equipment, the government of Unity State announced plans for a dredging project along the Naam River once they receive the second phase of equipment.

“The dredging of the rivers will be put on hold or will be stopped for a while until we do the environmental risk assessment and then we see the benefit to us as a country,” she said.

Napwon said her ministry has developed a plan and strategies to mitigate floods but said the plans do not include dredging of rivers or resumption of Jonglei Canal.

“The Ministry has developed mitigation and adaption strategies to (alleviate floods) for that does not include dredging or resumption of Jonglei canal project,” she said.

She said the dredging project will not commence until an environmental assessment risk is conducted.

“You can’t just go and do the dredging of the river without doing any environmental studies or environmental assessment. Maybe, there are people behind the project who want the water to run very fast to drain South Sudan and other regions.”