SPLM-IO’s Unity state official criticizes formation of Rweng state
June 30, 2016 (BENTIU) – An official from South Sudan’s armed opposition group of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), has criticized formation of one of the controversial 28 states created by President Salva Kiir after he signed a peace deal with former opposition leader, Riek Machar, in August last year to end the 21 months of civil war.
“One of the phony states among the unilaterally created states in the Republic of South Sudan is the so-called Ruweng state, since it doesn’t convince even those who are called the citizens of the so-called Ruweng state,” he told Sudan Tribune over the phone.
Southern part of Unity state comprised Koch, Mayiandit, Leer and Payinjiar counties. The northern part include Rubkotna and Guit and in the western part of it is Mayom and Abiehnom and in the northeastern is the Pariang county.
He argued that president Salva Kiir’s self-interest in curving Unity state into three states may complicate borders as some of the lands have been annexed to other communities.
He claimed that passengers can travel from Abiemnhom county, western part of Mayom county and pass through Mayom centre, Rubkotna and Guit before they could reach new established Rweng state.
“If that is the case, than there is a need for creating an Air Space Boundary or ASB to connect the two dissimilar counties otherwise Ruweng is a non-existing state,” he said.
The creation of more states in South Sudan had become one of the controversial issues which attracted criticism, including from the international community and regional bodies such as the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD).
The new South Sudanese government’s presidency said it would form a committee to review the number of states. So far no committee has been formed.
(ST)