S. Sudan army chief welcomes creation of 28 new states
October 26, 2015 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese army (SPLA) chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan has backed President Salva Kiir’s decree on creation of 28 new states in the country, despite the signing of a peace agreement that only recognises the 10 regions.
“This was what the people wanted and it has now been given. The people who are now opposing it were the same people who were advocating for it. So why reject what you wanted?”, asked the senior army official during Sunday’s meeting convened in Juba.
Awan supported the creation of the new states and pledged to contribute to building of the headquarters of his home state of Aweil East state, which was carved out from Aweil West, North and South counties. Two of these counties were combined with Raja County in Western Bahr el Ghazal state to form the new Lol state.
Meanwhile, Awan is opposed to appointing of governors for the new states from among fresh candidates. He prefers elevation of the incumbent deputy governors to the position of governors in new states.
The same, he stressed, should apply to deputy speakers of state legislative assemblies.
Awan also wants his home village of Malualkon named the state headquarters instead of Wanyjok, which was already specified in President Kiir’s decree announced on 2 October.
(ST)