Ambrose Riiny Thiik, head of the Jieng (Dinka) Council of Elders has complained that the media are not adequately appreciating and supporting the decision of President Salva Kiir to establish 28 states in place of the existing ten states.

Kiir announced the establishment of the 28 states by presidential order on 2 October, instructing authorities to implement the order within 30 days, but the operationalization of the decree has been delayed by legal hurdles and political challenges.

Riiny, a politician from Warrap who helped craft the proposal for creating new states, says that media should play a bigger role in promoting the decree.

“There is a big problem with you members of the media. You have not done proper sensitization of the members of the general public about the importance of presidential Establishment Order which creates more states,” he said in an interview on Wednesday.

“Instead of appreciating the decision of the president, some people have come out to reject it and these are the people spreading negative messages about the order and confusing people,” he said.

He added the media needs to really come out and sensitize the people to understand the importance and benefits which will accrue from the creation of more administrative units in the country.

Riiny stressed that creation of new states will strengthen  national unity and ways to create an enabling environment for bringing service delivery and decision-making closer to the people.

He said the order seeks to build a system of governance that prevents the interference of the national  government with local authorities and expands consultations and outreach in the decision making process.

Related: 

Dinka Council: Kiir added 4 states to our proposal (29 Oct.)

Head of Dinka Council of Elders walks out of public debate (12 Oct.)

Ambrose Riny Thiik denies having fueled war (10 Sept.)