The governor of South Sudan's so-called East Nile State, a territory recognized by the government but rejected as illegitimate by opposition militia in the state, has created three new counties in the state.

Governor Chol Tong Baluok in a press statement extended to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday said that the new counties are Atar, Khor Fulus and Koma. This represents a division of Pigi County into two.

Koma County apparently refers to the territory of the Koma tribe, with its county headquarter at Daju. The area formerly belonged to Longechuk County, which is considered part of Latjoor State, but the map that was released with Salva Kiir's Establishment Order appeared to indicate a plan to annex parts of Longechuk and Maiwut counties to East Nile State, including the area of Daju, which is located near the Ethiopian border.

Pigi County belongs to Jonglei State under the administrative boundaries of the ten states system adopted at independence. Opposition parties reject the Establishment Order dividing the country into 28 states because the constitution says there are only 10 states in the country.

In the Establishment Order issued last October, Salva Kiir transferred Pigi County to East Nile State.

Separately, Chol issued a decree for the removal of Pigi county Commissioner Joseph Majak after the state council of ministers approved the creation of three new counties.

Related:

Shilluk militia says they'll stop fighting if '28 states' cancelled (24 Apr.)