The Minister of information, Michael Makuei Lueth, says six among the ten states in the Upper Nile region will be led by the SPLM in Opposition.

He told a press conference in Juba today that this is to maintain the power sharing ratios in the agreement on the resolution of the conflict.

On Friday, the leader of the SPLM in Opposition, Dr Riek Machar, said the creation of more states was a violation of the peace agreement.

However, Makuei said the agreement will not be violated, arguing that the SPLM-IO will retain its share of power even in the new states.

“We have consistently been answering that the president has not violated the agreement. Instead, he has enriched it,” Mr Makuei said.

“I say he has enriched it because if you take Upper Nile State, it is divided into three new states; Unity is divided into three new states. On the application of the provisions of the agreement, it is irrelevant whether you divide each state into how many states because the provision of the agreement will apply on all these states as they are.”