Abiem East community in Northern Bahr el Ghazal welcomes creation of 28 states
October 23, 2015 (JUBA) – The leadership of Abiem East community in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state has issued a statement welcoming presidential order creating and dividing up the country into 28 states, notwithstanding peace deal, which president Salva Kiir and his former deputy in government and party, Riek Machar, signed in August to end 21 months of internal war.
The community leadership under former presidential advisor of peace and traditional affairs, Sultan Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol, assured president Kiir of his support on behalf of the community.
“We welcomed the creation of the 28 states and affirm our support to the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit. We also affirm our support for implementation of the compromise peace agreement because it is in the interest of everybody, including the president to ensure this country is stable so that our people live in harmony, work together to promote peaceful coexistence,” the community leadership said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday.
The community leadership also denounced activities of some of its members who allegedly failed the leadership after conducting the election in January 2015 and continued to operate as separate group.
“We, the legitimate leadership of Abiem East community in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state and of the newly presidential created Aweil East state, condemned in strongest term possible members who continue misguiding the general public that they are authorised community executive body of Madhol and Malualbai which forms the current Abiem East community headed by Sultan Abdelbagi Ayii Akol as the chairman,” the statement dated 15 October, 2015, further claimed.
It explained that in accordance with the community meeting held on 30 January 2015, after the funeral rite of late former community leader, General Deng Aluk, entire community, intellectuals, politicians, chief, men and women as well as youth unanimously endorsed the eighteen member committee as executive body of the current Abiem East community leadership headed by sultan Abdel bagi Ayii Akol.
There has been mixed reaction in South Sudan’s communities over the creation of the new 28 states with some condemning the move and fearing boundary conflicts, or bad annexation to other communities, while others support the move.
(ST)