Human rights organization is suing the government of South Sudan and two oil producing companies over environmental pollution to the East African Court of Justice.
Hope for Humanity Africa filed an interim order at the East African Court of Justice on June 6th to stop the country from exploring and exporting crude oil.
Wani Santino Jada, a lawyer for the organization says they filed the case on behalf of communities living in the oil producing states of Upper Nile and Unity.
He adds government has been given 45 days to respond to the law suit.
Advocate Wani mentions the organization took the government to court because it does not care about the ongoing pollution in the oil rich areas.
Many areas in Unity and Upper Nile states have been affected by pollution from activities of oil producing companies and the community members are not compensated.
Water sources and grazing lands have been contaminated by heavy metals from oil wastes and women gave birth to abnormal children as a result of the pollution.