Federalism on Steriods: President Kiir Decrees 28 States for South Sudan
5 min readMaking Sense of the 28 States Decreed By President Salva Kiir Mayaardit
By PaanLuel Wel, Juba, South Sudan
October 2, 2015 (SSB) — New campaign euphoria has engulfed Juba, and the entire country, for the new posts of 28 governors and 21 new MPs decreed by President Kiir effective today, 2 October 2015.
Among the 28 states, with their capital cities, decreed by President Salva Kiir Mayaardit are:
(A) Greater Equatoria States (8 states)
1- Imatong State (Torit) — Lopa, Torit, Ikotos and Magwi counties
2- Namorunyang State (Kapoeta) — Kapoeta North, Kapoeta East, Kapoeta South and Budi counties
3- Maridi State (Maridi) — Maridi and Ibba counties
4- Amadi State (Mundri) — Mvolo, Mundri West and Mundri East counties
5- Gbudwe State (Yambio) — Yambio, Ezo, Nagero, Anzara and Tambura counties
6- Jubek State (Juba) — Juba county (Bari, Lokoya, Nyangwara communities)
7- Terekeka State (Terekeka)– Terekeka, Jemeiza, Gwor, Tali and Tigor counties (Mundari community)
8- Yei River State (Yei) — Yei, Lainya, Morobo and Kajo Keji counties
(B) Greater Bhar el Ghazal States (10 states)
9- Wau State (Wau) — Jur River and Bagari counties
10- Aweil State (Aweil) –Aweil South and Aweil Center counties
11- Lol State (Raja) –Raja, Aweil North and Aweil West counties
12- Aweil East State (Wanjok) — Aweil East county
13- Twic State ( Mayen Abun) –Twic county
14- Gogrial East State (Kuacjok) –Gogrial West and Gogrial East counties
16- Tonj State (Tonj) –Tonj North, Tonj East and Tonj South counties
17- Eastern Lake State ( Yirol) — Yirol East, Yirol West and Awerial counties
17- Western Lake State (Rumbek) — Rumbek North, Rumbek East, Rumbek Center and Wulu counties
18- Gok State (Cueibet) — Cueibet county
(C) Greater Upper Nile States (10 states)
19- Northern Liech State (Bentiu) — Mayom, Koch, Rubkona and Guit counties
20- Southern Liech State (Leer) — Mayendit, Leer and Panyijiar counties
21- Ruweng State (Pariang) — Panriang and Abiemnhom counties
22- Eastern Nile State (Malakal) — Baliet, Malakal, Akoka, Pigi, Melut, Renk and Maban counties
23- Jonglei State (Bor) –Duk, Bor, and Twic East counties
24- Western Nile State (Kodok) — Panyikang, Kodok and Manyo counties
25- Western Bieh State (Ayod) —Ayod, and Fangak counties
26- Eastern Bieh State (Akobo —Akobo, Uror, and Nyirol counties
27- Latjor State (Nasir) — Nasir, Maiwut, Longuchuk and Ulang counties
28- Boma State (Pibor) — Pochalla, and Pibor counties
According to Minister Makwei Lueth, it is not the decision of the government to proliferate the states, but the demand of the people for federalism. The gov’t is simply implementing the will and wish of the people, he insists.
According to those in the KNOW, this is a strategy by the government to counter the IGAD-plus peace agreement which allocates two governors to the rebels.
“We rather give 2 governors out of 28 to Riek Machar than 2 out of 10. Let IGAD go and hang themselves,” said the insider.
“Some people have been singing that people want federalism, people want federalism; well, here it is, get it. We shall beat them at their own game. Let them have the taste of their own medicine.”
Another person confide that the president was under tremendous pressure from his allies in Greater Upper Nile, especially the Bor and Pandang Dinka and Bul Nuer of Mayom.
There was a fear that having a governor from the rebels side lording over them would tantamount to betrayal from the government.
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President Salva Kiir’s Presidential Decree for the Establishment of 28 States (PDF)
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Thus, in order to protect the interest and security of his allies, the president agree to a plan to re-demarcate the borders of states not just in Greater Upper Nile region but also across the country.
What is interesting about this decree is how he appears to have effectively implemented ethnic federalism=tribocracy. Nuer and Dinka communities of the Greater Upper Nile region have been separated and put into different states comprising of either Nuer or Dinka only.
In other words, the whole decree appears to be a statement, a salvo, against IGAD, the Americans, Troika and the international community, all of whom are perceived by Juba to have taken side–allegedly, supporting the rebels of Riek Machar in the current civil war.
It remains to be seen what reactions, if any, will come from IGAD, Troika, Americans and the international community.
Meanwhile, immediate reactions from South Sudan has been registered on social media and on the street of Juba.
“I think General Dummy has ended his nasty leadership on his own. Has he been overwhelmed by Dr. Desperate and his American masters? What he does not know is that he will be made to return the 6 billions that he stole from our oil money.We will get our good leader out side the decomposed SPLM,” said one South Sudanese, in reaction to the decree.
This view perfectly reflects the general public frustration with South Sudanese leadership across the political divides: SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO, SPLM-FD etc.
“When they agree, they loot our resources, and when they disagree, they kill us,” South Sudanese veteran journalist, Nhial Bol Aken, once said.
As for the government, the joke goes, this is all about taking town to the people, a mantra of the SPLM/A during the war. It is a devolution of power struggle, greed, corruption and conflict, said another.
Among the immediate problems the creation of new states would trigger is inter-communal border disputes, and more particularly over Malakal which is highly contested between the Padang Dinka and Chollo communities.
Said one South Sudanese analyst, “most controversial is the idea of making Malakal the capital city of Eastern Nile state. Makal or Malakal County is predominantly Shilluk and they have been annexed to eastern Nile state of Jieeng and mabaan communities.”
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PaanLuel Wël, the managing editor of PaanLuel Wel: South Sudanese Bloggers (SSB), graduated with a double major in Economics and Philosophy from The George Washington University, Washington D.C, USA. He is the author of Return in Peace (R.I.P) Dr. John Garang and Who Killed Dr. John Garang and also the Editor of the essential speeches and writings of the late SPLM/A leader, Dr. John Garang, published as The Genius of Dr. John Garang, vol. 1-3. You can reach him through his email: paanluel2011@gmail.com or Facebook page
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