The people of Wonduruba in Central Equatoria will vote in March whether to join the proposed Jubek or Yei River states recently created by Salva Kiir, a local mediator said.

Episcipal Bishop Paul Yugusuk said Jubek governor Jadalla Augustino Wani has advised the people of Wonduruba to plan for a conference which could take place either in Wondoruba or in Lainya depending on the security situation.

The suggestion of a voting conference follows a community meeting on Wednesday and Thursday which failed to resolve the issue of which state to join, Yugusuk said.

The church leader stressed that it must be up to the community to decide which side to join.

"The issue of Wonduruba as to where to belong whether Yei or Juba, it is the decision of the people and not the decision of the politicians or it cannot be ruled politically," Yugusuk said. "It is the people of Wonduruba to sit down and amicably agree as where to go either to remain in Jubek State as before or go to Yei River State."

The bishop advised the people on Wonduruba not to disagree and fight over the decision.

"The advice that we will give is to agree and to see the reason as to why they want go to Yei and the reasons as to why they should go to Jubek. These reasons can be weighed and find logically which reason is strong," he explained.

Yugusuk said if the people do not agree, voting would be an option to solve the problem, though he said this is not a good option because it will mean only one side succeeds and both the pro-Jubek and pro-Yei River sides have historical arguments.

New appointments in Yei River

Separately, the appointed Yei River governor David Lokonga Moses on Friday chose caretaker county commissioners and a new Yei mayor. They are:

Yei River: Samuel Henry Malimu

Lainya: Augustino Kiri Gwolo

Kajo Keji: Julius Lokonga Eliyuda

Morobo: Jacob Toti Phanese

Yei mayor: Cosmas Bidali Wori Kojo

Yei deputy mayor: Azaria Khemis Noah.