The Jieng (Dinka) Council of Elders said Sunday it welcomed a communique of the Council of Ministers of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) asking parties to the conflict in South Sudan to form a government of national unity and suspend operationalization of the 28 states.
“The council welcomes the communique of IGAD and commends the government for a swift response and welcome of the communique,” said Ambrose Riiny Thiik, head of the self-appointed tribal group.
The council remains supportive of the creation of more states, he claimed, denying that the communique canceled the creation of more states.
“The communique is very clear. It does not say anywhere that it cancels the Establishment Order and creation of more states. It calls for suspension of further actions. This simply means that whatever was done should not be cancelled and other actions should not be taken again,” he said.
He accused some unnamed politicians of creating more confusion with interpretations of the wording of the IGAD communique.
The exact text of the IGAD communique calls on the South Sudanese government “to suspend further action on implementing the operationalization of new states until an inclusive, participatory National Boundary Commission comprising all Parties to ARCSS reviews proposed states and their boundaries, and that this review process occur, for a period of up to one month.”
Related:
IGAD asks S Sudan to pause 28 states plan (31 Jan.)
Dinka Council: Kiir added 4 states to our proposal (29 Oct.)