Former Detainees reject 28 states

The former political detainees, commonly called FDs, have rejected the creation of 28 states.

On Friday last week, President Salva Kiir issued a decree, curving 18 more states out of the 10.

In a press statement released today, the group expressed their disappointment in the move.

“The creation of more states at this particularly delicate time when the country is geared towards the implementation of the Agreement for Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) is unfortunate and unnecessary as it adds more uncertainty with regards to the status of the Agreement and its implementation,” partly read the statement.

The group consisting of Pagan Amum, Dr Majak Agoot, Deng Alor, John Luk, amongst others – says the creation of the states will cause complications in the power sharing rations.

According to the peace deal, the FDs get 7% of the ministerial positions at the national level, and 15% at the state’s.

“The creation of more states would no doubt complicate the power sharing ratios that were painstakingly negotiated in the Agreement. Whereas the power sharing ratios were determined on the basis of the existing 10 States, it is now not clear whether that formula would apply to the newly created states, particularly when the President emphatically stated that he will soon appoint the Governors of the new states,” it continued.

“In addition to the above, we submit that the Presidential Decree is not in consonance and indeed undermines fundamental provisions of the existing Transitional Constitution of South Sudan (TCSS) 2011.”

The constitution stipulates that “the territory of South Sudan is composed of ten States governed on the basis of decentralization”.

Other political entities have rejected the creation of 28 states.

The SPLM in Opposition led by Dr Riek Machar has said the move is a violation of the peace agreement.

The National Alliance chaired by Dr Lam Akol says it violates both the constitution and the agreement on the resolution of the conflict.

Dr Akol argued that the decision should have been deliberated upon by the National Legislative Assembly as required by the law.

However, the People’s Liberal Party says though the 28 states will be expensive to maintain, it will be effective.

“This kind of system of governance is actually the most deliberate system; at the time, it’s the most expensive system,” said Peter Mayen, Chairman of PLP.