Juba, South Sudan
April 11, 2022—South Sudan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Manawa Peter Gatkuoth spoke in support of resumption of Jonglei Canal, a project that was started back in 1978 but was abruptly stopped when the SPLM/A began its operation in southern areas in 1983.
Speaking to Nyamilepedia on Monday, Mr. Gattiek Wichar, the Press Secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said Hon. Gatkuoth is advocating for the resumption of Jonglei Canal Project because he believes the project will benefit the country to achieve socio-economic development and it will also help South Sudan to regulate its water.
“.. The Jonglei Canal Project is not new and at least 260 KM of the Canal has been already dug. So what Hon. Minister Gatkuoth said is to complete its construction so that we can utilize our own water for socio-economic development and can also help us to control water in the country.” Press Secretary Gattiek Wichar told Nyamilepedia from South Sudanese Capital.
The minister acknowledges the politicization of the project; however, he assures citizens that most of the criticisms are outdated and can’t be justified since the country is independence unlike in the past when it could have benefited the regimes in Khartoum.
“I know there are fear around the resumption of the Jonglei Canal project as some citizens fear the resumption of the Canal based on the old perception all southern Sudanese had before they gained independence but now since the it’s sovereign state, the project will definitely serve the prime interest of the citizens, not for the benefit of other countries as many may have misunderstood.” Read part of a statement attributed to Hon. Manawa Peter Gatkuoth.
“.. We are sure that when the issue of Jonglei Canal is brought up some citizens panic and view it with prejudice that it might endanger the ecosystem or the project is going to serve the interest of upstream countries but that’s not the case since we gained our independence we have to utilize our own resources for the economic growth and sustainable social services for South Sudanese ” He added.
A team led by the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation and his senior technical staff presented the proposal to the office of the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny last week and Machar was pleased, adding that he can support the project without any reservation since it is going to boost the economy and creates opportunities for South Sudanese.
The construction of Jonglei Canal was started in 1978 but was stopped after few years following the SPLM/A uprising. According to South Sudanese intellectuals, the project was an attempt by the Egyptians to exploit the Sudd water to satisfy their dire needs; hopwever, the current resumption is also being spearheaded by the Egyptians leaving doubts if any of the original motives has changed.
