Unity State Governor, Joseph Nguen Monytuil, has received additional machines to aid in the clearing of Naam River, a critical waterway in South Sudan. The equipments were received on April 12, 2023, and will be used to dredge the river and increase its navigability, according to government statement.
“The commencement of clearing Naam River will start on the first phase from Bentiu to Lake No, and the second phase from Bentiu to Bharelgazal region,” Monytuil said in a statement.
The clearing of Naam River is a controversial initiative that was widely opposed by netizens.

On November, 2020, President Kiir ordered the suspension 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 but in 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.

In addition to the Naam River project, the government also has plans on working on dredging the Sudd Swamp, one of the largest wetlands in the world. The swamp covers over 30,000 square kilometers.