14 members of the legislative assembly for the proposed Western Nile state were sworn in Tuesday before the appointed governor William Othon.

21 total members were appointed by President Salva Kiir last February. Four members of the Democratic Change Party appointed by President Salva Kiir did not attend the swearing-in ceremony.

MPs representing DC Party declined to comment on the appointments, saying they did not receive any official letter from the state government about it.

Yagoub Adam Kiir was elected as the speaker of the state legislative Aasembly and Tereza Mario Mayik as deputy speaker.

The government of so-called Western Nile state is stationed in Malakal town, though Malakal has been placed within the proposed boundaries of another state called Eastern Nile.