Pro-government demonstrations were on Monday organized in Bor town of Jonglei State in support of the current 32 states.

Dozens of local residents in Bor town carried banners in support of the current 32 states and the Abyei administrative area.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, several demonstrators urged the government and the opposition to form a unity government by 22 February, saying a return to the original 10 states could jeopardize the peace process.

Currently, South Sudan has a total of 32 states. Most of them were created by President Salva Kiir during the civil war. The former Jonglei State had been divided into Bieh, Jonglei, Akobo, Fangak and Boma states.

A demonstrator, Kerbino Deng, said a return to the former 10 states could create problems between rival communities.

 “There is no problem with 32 states, we want those states to be maintained or more to be created. Reduction of states will create more problems and we do not want another fighting in Jonglei,” he said.

Protestor Mary Dokdit said amalgamation of the existing states will deepen grudges among feuding communities in the country.

Another protestor who identified himself only as Dhieu urged the parties to form the coalition government next month.

For his part, Jonglei Governor Maker Thiong Maal welcomed the demonstrators’ position on the issue of states.

The rival parties have twice failed to form the unity government, first in May 2019 and then in November the same year, when they agreed to give themselves100 days to resolve disputed issues and form a transitional government by 22 February 2020.

Under the terms of the revitalized peace deal, the parties are to create a unified army and agree on the number and boundaries of states.