SPLM-IO officials describe 28 states as “unlawful exercise”

December 28, 2015 (BENTIU) – Officials from the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) said the recent dissolution of 10 constitutionally recognized states and creation and appointment of 28 states and governors was unlawful exercise by Salva Kiir to create tribal problems between communities over grabbed lands.

David Jany Yak, a member of state legislature in the oil rich Unity state has described the presidential decree as unlawful, referring to the action as a wishful agenda from enemies of peace.

“We the government, militants and the entire citizens of Unity state, do hereby strongly condemn the unilateral decrees for creation and appointment of [28] states and governors by Salva Kiir and government,” he told Sudan Tribune over phone interview on Monday.

The opposition official has been an elected member of parliament representing Koch county in Bentiu and will resume his position as parliamentarian in the state in accordance with the peace agreement signed in August between President Kiir and SPLM-IO Chairman, Riek Machar.

Yak is currently secretary for the state finance in the opposition faction for the now defunct Unity state, which was supposed to be governed by the opposition if the agreement was to be implemented as signed.

“I am deeply saddened by Salva Kiir’s unilateral decree for the creation of 28 States in the Republic of South Sudan and in particular, the division of Unity State into three smaller States without proper demarcation, is curse and bloodshed. As a citizen and a leader of the state, I am calling on Salva Kiir to reverse it before it’s too late,” he added.

Citizens of counties such as Mayom of Bul-Nuer community, Rubkotna of Leek-Nuer and Guit of Jikany-Nuer that have been complaining that large chunks of their lands have been rewarded to Dinka to Parieng and Abiemhnom by president Kiir’s decree, threatening to get them back by all means.

(ST)