South Sudan's president ordered the suspension Saturday of all dredging-related activities in the country until evidence-based studies are carried out on their impact on surrounding communities and the ecosystems they rely on.
Salva Kiir Mayardit's announcement, which was made during his address on the country's 11th independence anniversary, means the dredging project on the Bahr El Ghazal-Naam River, approved by the cabinet last year, and the century-old Jonglei canal project will now be halted. In May, Unity State government received dredging equipment from Egypt for the project on the Naam river, claiming it would reduce the flooding that displaced thousands in the state. This was met with strong criticism from environmentalists, citizens and activists who said that the plan would result in environmental and economic catastrophe, drying up the country's White Nile River and the Sudd wetlands which farmers and local wildlife rely on.
But government officials, including South Sudan's vice presidents, have argued that the dredging process would help open up rivers for economic activity and help mitigate floods that have affected most of the country.
South Sudan has been experiencing extreme flooding over the past three years, with 1.2 million people affected by flooding across the country.