Community leaders of the proposed Eastern Nile State have rejected on Sunday to hand the state governorship over to the SPLM-IO, saying it should instead be ruled by a governor appointed by Salva Kiir.
The August 2015 peace agreement says Upper Nile State must be ruled by a governor from the opposition. After the division of the state into three parts by presidential decree, Salva Kiir appointed his own loyalists to govern the three states, but Vice President James Wani has told the new governors to be ready to give up their seats or opposition nominees.
In a press released extended to Radio Tamazuj, East Nile community leaders SPLM-IO leaders are only representing themselves and cannot lead the state.
“We will not allow the SPLA-IO in our land and will not give them any place in Eastern Nile state,” reads the press release.
The community leaders reaffirmed their support for Kiir’s Establishment Order to divide South Sudan into 28 states. They also rejected claims that Malakal belongs to the Shilluk tribe, which has been one of the reasons the opposition have rejected the borders created by Salva Kiir dividing the state.
The statement claims to represent the view of communities of Renk, Maban, Koma, Melut, Baliet, Akoka and Pigi counties.
The statement called on the government to speedily demarcates the state borders to avoid further conflicts. The community leaders said the dispute between Shilluk and Dinka tribes over Malakal will be resolved through the constitution.
File photo: Malakal port before the war