The government of Eastern Lakes State has proposed to divide the new state into seven counties.

Eastern Lakes comprise three counties of the former Lakes State - Awerial County, Yirol East County, and Yirol West County.

The proposal to create seven counties has been sent to the national government in Juba.

Eastern Lakes State Minister of Information Nelson Makoi told a local FM station that they initialy proposed to create nine countie,s then revised the proposal to seven counties.

“This proposal remains in the Office of the President and Council of States, so as far we are waiting for positive results over the request.”

Nelson won’t say when the government in Juba is expected to make a final decision about the number of counties in the new state.

Eastern Lakes State is one of 28 states created by President Salva Kiir by decree but challenged as unconstitutional by a coalition of opposition parties because the country's constitution specifies that there are only ten states in South Sudan.

Monitors of the peace agreement have called the creation of the 28 states a “violation” of the peace agreement. Salva Kiir says the 28 states are the demand of the people.