South Sudan's council of ministers today unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the establishment of 10 states plus three administrative areas in the country.

President Salva Kiir on Saturday made a compromise by cutting the 32 states back down to the original 10 -- a key opposition demand -- to pave the way for a transitional government of national unity.

Kiir also included on top of the 10 states, three administrative areas of Ruweng, Abyei and greater Pibor.

Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters after an extra-ordinary cabinet meeting in Juba that the council had passed a resolution endorsing the original 10 states plus three administrative areas.

“The resolution was adopted and passed unanimously by the cabinet. The council commended the decision made for the sake of peace in South Sudan,” Makuei said.

The information minister revealed that the justice minister has made some constitutional amendments to incorporate the 10 states plus three administrative areas into the country’s transitional constitution.

Makuei, who is also the government spokesman, said the transitional government of national unity should be formed on 22 February. He pointed out that VIP protection forces are fully prepared for their possible deployment.

“We cannot wait and hold the establishment of the government hostage because of provisions of the agreement which are not yet completed,” he stressed.

Opposition leader Riek Machar - who returned to Juba on Monday – welcomed the return to the original 10 states but rejected the administrative areas of Ruweng, Abyei and greater Pibor.

South Sudan's government and opposition leaders are supposed to form a new unity government on February 22, 2020, in accordance with the terms of the 2018 peace agreement.