The army general who governs 'East Nile State', one of the 28 states that Salva Kiir has sought to create by decree, has appointed his deputy and seven county commissioners.

General Chol Thon Balok appointed Uyi Kuoji as his new deputy governor and James Daniel Cuang as secretary-general of the state government.

The seven county commissioners are: Stephen Chan Akol for Renk County; Chol Ayiik Dau for Melut County; Hussein Abula for Koma County; Thon Deng Malang for Baliet County; Abraham Chol Chan for Akoka County; Joseph Monykur for Pigi County; and Luk Saddala Deng for Maban County.

The move came on Sunday, the same day that East African regional bloc IGAD called on the South Sudanese government to refrain from taking any more actions to operationalize the 28 states. IGAD has recommended creation of a boundaries commission to discuss the issue and urged the formation of a power-sharing government at the national level before further steps are taken to create the new states.