ADDIS ABABA– South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit decision to return the country to 10 states and their respective counties is taking into account the interest of peace, stability and unity of the country, according to country’s Ambassador to Ethiopia.
Ambassador James Pita Morgan made the above remark yesterday while briefing local and international media on the recent decision President Kiir made to revert the country to10 states.
According to the Ambassador, the President and his two deputies arrived at the conclusion of dissolving the 32 states and to revert the country back to the previous 10 states in a view to bring back peace and preserve the unity of the people of South Sudan.
The President’s decree also aimed at creating a conducive environment for the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) which is due on February 22, 2020.
Accordingly, South Sudan reverts back to the previous 10 states namely: Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Upper Nile, Jonglei, Warrap, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Unity, Western Bahr El Ghazal and Lakes.
Furthermore, three administrative areas namely; Abyei, Ruweng and Greater Pibor were established in the new decree and will be administered under the Presidency until the end of the R-TGoNU, which will be preceded by the elections, Ambassador Morgan elaborated.
The Ambassador quoted President Kiir’s address that he made following the announcement of the country’s return to ten states that the decision was reached after weighting several options and considered the latest compromise will preserve the unity of the country.
The decree would also have a pivotal importance to move the people of South Sudan out of conflict which has affected many citizens for the last six years.
“The establishment of the 32 states was a respond from President Kiir to the people’s demand, which echoed the SPLM philosophy of taking the towns to the people,” he said, adding that the issue of states is not the root cause of South Sudanese Civil War.
Ambassador Morgan further cited President Kiir’s remark that the issue of the number of states will be addressed by R-TGoNU during the implementation period.
It is the desire of the Government of South Sudan to make sure that the people of South Sudan are accorded an opportunity to exercise their rights in determining the number of states that they need in the country.
According to him, President Kiir stressed in his remark the need to refocus energies to the unity of the country so that the peace agreement that it is going to be implemented reunites the people of South Sudan once again. The peace accord also gives the South Sudanese Government the opportunity to collectively embark on the nation building.
The Ethiopian Herald February 19/2020
BY BILAL DERSO
