July 23rd 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s incumbent, Salva Kiir Mayardiit, is more prefered that the country should shift to 21 states rather than going back to a ‘square one’ [10 states], sources from the South Sudan’s Presidency told the Nyamilepedia.
Kiir, according to one official, believe that going to 21 states is better than the initial ten given the fact that most of the Dinka ethnic groups who had been rewarded with states after Kiir made them 32 in the state will not be more happy if the country returns to 10.
“The president gives more preferrence to the 21 states which where proposed in Khartoum last month. He sees 10 states as a threat to peace because some communities will fight again. So it is better for the 21 to be maitained,” the official told the Nyamilepedia on the condition of anonymity.
Another official also told the Nyamilepedia on the condition of anonymity that Kiir had directed his mediation team to solve the issue of the state not on the basis of the three regions but on the basis that the country would be governed on the basis of 21.
Peace talks are expected to continue this week in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and a peace deal is expected to be signed by the parties including the government on Thursday.
