Vice-President Nyandeng lauds suspension of dredging project

JUBA – South Sudan’s Vice President for Youth and Gender Cluster, Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, has welcomed the recent suspension of all dredging-related activities until an environmental impact assessment is conducted.

On 9 July 2022, President Salva Kiir Mayardit suspended all dredging relative activities after public outcry.

Nyandeng said suspension of dredging activities will safeguard the interest of the country.

“By suspending all dredging activities and directing the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation to conduct fact-finding, and feasibility studies, I believe that H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit has safeguarded the interest of this country,” Nyandeng said in a statement extended to Sudans Post on Monday.

Nyandeng said suspending the dredging and the resumption of the Canal by the President Kiir shows the country responsibility to protect the waters of the Nile.

“Without adequately discussing and addressing such questions, we will be permitting machines and engineers to make long-term changes to our environmental landscape.”

“The very concept for the establishment of the Nile Basin Initiative was based on the idea that together in partnership, we can find ways to address common challenges.”

She urged everyone to allow public consultation to ensure transparency and proper accountability.

“I am also aware that some believe the Nile dredging will mitigate the extent of the ongoing flood crisis. However, it is also true that without sufficient information, action can be futile or counterproductive,” she said.

She said tampering with the waters of the Bahr-el Ghazal Basin could result in to irreversible harm to all who depend on the wetland.

“For the people and the delicate ecosystems in the surrounding Sudd, tampering with the waters of the Bahr-el Ghazal Basin could be detrimental in the long run, resulting in irreversible harm to all who depend on the wetland,” she said.

“Now is the time to await a credible feasibility study on the proposed projects and move forward with a knowledgeable and unified stance.”