The decision by South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to suspend the dredging project on the Bahr el Ghazal-Naam River has sparked protest in Unity state.

Last month, Unity State authorities received dredging equipment from Egypt for the project on the Naam River, saying it would reduce the flooding that displaced thousands in the state. This was met with criticism from environmentalists, citizens and activists who said that the plan would result in environmental and economic catastrophe, drying up the country’s Sudd wetlands, which farmers and wildlife rely on.

But government officials have argued that the dredging project would help open up rivers for economic activity and help mitigate floods.

On 9 July, President Kiir ordered the suspension of all dredging activities in the country until evidence-based studies are carried out on their impact on surrounding communities. He ordered the Environment ministry to engage experts for the feasibility studies.

However, hundreds of citizens in Unity state invaded the banks of the Naam River with hand tools this morning to clear waterweed in protest against the suspension of dredging activities.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj from Bentiu town, Jal Malo, a local youth leader, said: “We are seeing the national government is not willing to dredge the Naam River. The message we are sending to the government is that the people of Bentiu are suffering from floods. The community needs the dredging of the Naam River to start immediately. We are now clearing the river with our hands.”

 He added, “All forms of transportation are not there in Bentiu… people here cannot dredge the Naam River with their hands but they are sending the message to their government that we need the dredging of the Naam River to start.”

For his part, the State Minister of Physical Infrastructure Lam Tungwar said: “The communities have just decided to open up the river with their own hands to remove all the waterweeds and clear it because there is flooding.”

 “I am very reserved about this issue of dredging because the president has already issued a decree and a committee will be formed to do the feasibility studies. We, the local community, are patriotic individuals who love the country, who love their state and who love their county. They are people who do not want to be moved to another location. If somebody is talking about them being relocated, that one will not be possible.”