MP Mathok wants key ministries summoned over dredging of rivers

MP Mathok wants key ministries summoned over dredging of rivers

A member of the South Sudan Revitalized Transitional Legislative Assembly (R-TNLA), wants key security institutions to appear before the August House to shed light on how dredging equipment from a neigbouring country was allowed in South Sudan.

“The situation needs to be addressed as quickly as possible to reduce the misinformation and give the correct message to the public,” Gen. Salva Mathok Gengdit weighed in on the thorny issue of the planned dredging of Jonglei Canal and Naam River.

The MP now wants the Presidential Advisor on National Security, Ministry of Defense, Interior, National Security and of Foreign Affairs; and the governor of Unity State to appear before the parliament to shed more light on the Jonglei Canal drama.

The MP alleged that the government of Egypt has so far sneaked in heavy machines, including military hardware into the country, in readiness for the exercise.

“Heavy machines and equipment to do the dredging are already in Unity State. I was informed by my sources that the whole equipment with containers was not allowed to be opened by customs officers for checking.

“The sources confirmed to me that some bulletproof vehicles are in that huge consignment. It’s very suspicious,” Gen. Mathok said without giving any proof.

Gen. Mathok, a former SPLA Deputy Chief of General Staff for Administration, urged the public to stand up and unite in order to address the issue with a unified voice.

The lawmakers added that it would be the right time for those institutions to tell the country’s parliamentarians how the equipment entered the country without the knowledge of Parliament.

He said the country’s higher level government officials have failed to shed light on the motive behind dredging.

The dredging of the NAAM River and the resumption of the Jonglei Canal have been the issues of discussions in the country with a section of leaders rooting for the projects to go on while another school of thought – especially the academia, are opposed to the move.

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