President Salva Kiir issued a republican order last evening, splitting the ten states into 28.

In the Equatoria region, the previous three states have been expanded to eight.

In the Bhar al-Ghazal, which had four states, they have been expanded to ten. The Upper region also had its previous three states split into 10.

Announcing the order on the state TV last evening, the president said he took the action to devolve power to the people.

He said this devolution has been delayed since the signing of the CPA.

“This was no because my government and I were not interested in devolving such powers to you, including finances of the country, but my administration in the center was busy with issues connected to your right for self-determination, such that you become free and sovereign state,” he said.

“Now indeed you are free and sovereign state. Therefore, there is no reason for me to retain your constitutional right for self-governance, self-reliance, self-development and determining your future through free, fair, and transparent and democratic elections in three years to come,” the president said.

“Now you have the opportunity to develop your locality, home villages, through the mobilization of your local and state resources… There is no any other better time to do this than now,” he added.

The leader of the SPLM-IO, Dr Riek Machar, who previously announced 21 states in the country, has described the order as unilateral. He said it is a violation of the peace agreement.

“This Presidential Decree is a violation of the Peace Agreement and is a clear message to the world that President Kiir is not committed to peace,” Dr Riek said in a statement he issued after the order.

He also said the states he had announced were based on the colonial borders.

“The twenty one colonial districts have clear delineated borders that were demarcated before 1st January 1956,” he said.

The President said the order shall come into force in 30 working days.

Each state assembly shall have not more than 21 MPs.

The President said he would establish State Border Dispute Resolution Committee to resolve disputes arising in relation to conflict over boundaries.