A committee set up by the Jonglei State government to divide the state's assets among four proposed successor states has halted its work, signaling a delay in implementation of President Salva Kiir's 'Establishment Order'.

The president issued an order on 2 October mandating the division of the state into four parts along racial lines. The decree ran into political and legal difficulties and the president decided to take it to parliament for approval.

In the meantime, governors of the states were instructed to prepare for execution of the order by dividing the assets of their state depending on the number of successor states as set out in the Establishment Order.

In Jonglei, the state government last month formed a committee for asset distribution to divide among the four proposed successor states the offices, tractors, trucks, official cars and financial resources of the state.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, a state minister said their work was almost finished but they decided to stop until there is 'seriousness' from the national government.

“We have stopped working because now the national government has put more attention on the peace implementation and hopefully we will go on with our work,” said the minister who was a member of the committee.

He said the outcome of the committee was to be approved by the council of ministers and later implemented.

Separately, the presidency told the media weeks ago that the order for states creation is not reversible, but officials in some parts of the country have criticized details of the plan to create 28 states. In Jonglei, for example, some have complained that Pigi County will be annexed to one of the proposed successor states of neighboring Upper Nile State.

Pigi County was excluded from the exercise on asset distribution reportedly for this reason.

Two of the states proposed by Kiir to be carved out of Jonglei State are under the control of the rebel group SPLM-IO, Western Bieh and Eastern Bieh. A third, Boma State, is under the control of the Cobra Faction led by David Yau Yau, who signed a peace deal with the government in early 2014.

Related coverage:

Kiir delays operationalization of order creating 28 states (4 Nov.)

Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval (14 Oct.)

Jonglei governor urges citizens not to be overexcited about new states (11 Oct.)

Inter-tribal church choir shocked by racial division of Jonglei State (7 Oct.)