Jonglei canal project needs to be revised, South Sudan says
August 7, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) today reiterated its position on the construction of the Jonglei canal saying its reservations on the project still stands.
Dawyer said that the agreement on the canal was drafted by the central government and Egypt without a say for South Sudan on the issue adding that the project was one of the causes the outbreak of the civil war in 1983 between North and South Sudan.
The Jonglei Canal, started in 1980, is a hydro-construction project in Upper Nile Province of southern Sudan designed to alter the course of the White Nile as it passes through a swampy area in southern Sudan known as the Sudd.
According to Egyptian officials, the purpose of the canal was to ensure the flow of 4.7 billion cubic meters of water annually, to be equally distributed between Egypt and Sudan. However, the canal project was put to a halt in 1983 following the outbreak of the North-South civil war.
The irrigation minister said the projects needs a new “feasibility study” that should be carried out by his ministry.
He also denied knowledge of reports about an Egyptian delegation scheduled to visit Jonglei canal site. The Egyptian irrigation minister had announced that he established a committee to look into the possibility of renewing work on the canal saying it will develop surrounding areas through building new infrastructure and services to the locals.
Egypt is currently in a middle of row with Nile basin countries who are pressing to modify the 1929& 1959 agreements that grants it the lion’s share in the river water.
With almost 80 million people, Egypt’s water demands are projected to exceed its supply by 2017, according to a government reported published earlier this month.
Egyptian officials are worried about the upcoming referendum in 2011 for Southern Sudanese as a vote for secession it might further impact its share in the Nile waters.
A meeting of the nine Nile Basin countries held in Alexandria last week failed to reach an agreement on a new framework pact for water-sharing following intense lobbying from Egypt and Sudan.
Dawyer criticized the exclusion of South Sudan from the Alexandria conference with an observer status.
(ST)
Maruon Ayiei
Jonglei canal project needs to be revised, South Sudan says
This is a loaded gun to both the grantor and the grantee and if the SPLM/A has just forgotten the history surrounding the Jonglei canal, let them make that agreement. We don’t need any rush to judgment with Egypt until 2011. If they need cooperation with us, they have to wait or shot up. Again, I repeat, this is a loaded open gun. Do you know how many people have shed their blood and than abruptly try to resume and make some forge agreement with Egypt, Ain’t gonna happen. Unless you do it in the air and not on land, we will bring it down again.
Kur
Jonglei canal project needs to be revised, South Sudan says
No, NO. Jonglei Canal is done. There is noway any dog is going to dig it again. It will remain a history. Any attempts by anybody to start that project again will bring alot of troubles. We do not need that rubbish development the Egyptians are talking about. Why they do not dig the canal in the desert in Egypt and make the development there.
Kur
Aleu
Jonglei canal project needs to be revised, South Sudan says
There is no need for Egyptian government to Interfere in Southern Sudan affairs. no need for them to come and visit jonglei canal it none of thier bussiness.
K Bambo
Jonglei canal project needs to be revised, South Sudan says
The issue of Jonglei Canal is a South Sudan issue and should not be decided by the government of the day alone, but in a referendum by the people of South Sudan. The “feasibility study” that needs to be carried out, again should not be by the Ministry of Irrigation of South Sudan as the ministry has no skills, experience and/or environmental experts to conduct such an important feasibility studies. Such feasibility study should only be carried out by an experienced international body such as the UN of cause involving the Southerners, nonetheless, I always expect and hope the result will be a big NO. My advice to the minister is not to open the Jonglei file until after the 2011 referendum.
Ken
K Bambo
Jonglei canal project needs to be revised, South Sudan says
The issue of Jonglei Canal is a South Sudan issue and should not be decided by the government of the day alone, but in a referendum by the people of South Sudan. The “feasibility study” that needs to be carried out, again should not be by the Ministry of Irrigation of South Sudan as the ministry has no skills, experience and/or environmental experts to conduct such an important feasibility studies. Such feasibility study should only be carried out by an experienced international body such as the UN of cause involving the Southerners, nonetheless, I always expect and hope the result will be a big NO. My advice to the minister is not to open the Jonglei file until after the 2011 referendum.
Ken
yirolda
Jonglei canal project needs to be revised, South Sudan says
Shame on he/she who says that he/ she will renewed the construction of Jonglei canal inorder to get money that is later be corrupted but not considering it negative effect on the community of the area, don’t you know what is so called land derlection? and our people depend on the land in which ever the way. Idiots any attempt to renewed this construction will be cursed by the martyrs who died for the sake of that mistreatment you revised and said to be beneficial You want to eat just and die? or do you want to leave behind Good things?
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSShame ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyoooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu