The Establishment Order for the Creation of 28 States in South Sudan has sparked significant interest and debate among South Sudanese, with supporters hailing it as President Salva Kiir’s ‘checkmate’ move against the armed opposition and critics calling it illegal and divisive.
Many radio listeners and social media users reacted to the news of the division of the existing ten states into 28 smaller states, which Kiir announced by decree on Friday.
Ayom Ateny compared the new system to the ethnic federalism of Ethiopia, adding, “Politically I think this move is meant to checkmate Riek Machar.” He was referring to SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar, an ethnic Nuer, whose tribe will now be confined to five new states separated from the territories of other tribes.
“Nuer rule Nuer in Nuerland… What’s wrong with that? Isn’t what the rebels call federalism and self-rule? You got your states, please shut up rebels and stay in them,” said Abraham Marial, another supporter of the order.
“Ethnic federation is much welcomed. The reality is South Sudan is a nation of tribes,” said a South Sudanese on Twitter going by the handle ‘dekuekd’. He further commented, “Kiir just outplayed the rebels.”
Other supporters hailed Kiir for his bold decision. “This is not a proposal but a presidential decree which can’t reversed by any other person except him. Your ‘yes’ or ‘no’ won’t yield any fruit,” said Mapuor Makuac, writing on the social media website Facebook.
On the other hand, critics claimed that the decree was not constitutional and aggravated racial and political tensions.
“Make no mistake. Establishment Order Number 36/2015 AD signals the end of the 1st Republic. South Sudan is opening a new political chapter,” said ‘Citizen Lagu,’ a South Sudanese using the social media site Twitter.
“The constitution of South Sudan honored only ten states – besides, this deal has not been passed through by the parliament… Kiir wants to obstruct peace by creating confusion,” said another South Sudanese on social media.
Yet another commented that South Sudan is “not his (Salva Kiir’s) cattle camp that he can do whatever he wants.”
Reverent Thok T. Thok commented, “South Sudanese fought for half a century to have a nation… not tiny ethnic states.” He added that he did not expect the order to be implemented soon.
Tongun Lo Loyuong, a writer said, “While our Jeng [Dinka] compatriots applaud their son Kiir’s decrees, South Sudan will cease to exist at this rate of unilateral decrees!”
For his part, Mabior Garang, the son of the late SPLM founder John Garang, cautioned that the decree was difficult to implement in the near term. “Even just from a management of change level…abrupt establishment of states in South Sudan without criteria or budget is foolhardy…”
Gatour W Jal, another critic, commenting during a debate on the website Facebook, pointed out that the “IGAD-Plus brokered compromise peace deal didn’t recognize or mention any more than 10 states in South Sudan. We are now in process of peace implementations and anything to be done should be in line with that very deal.”
Local concerns
Meanwhile, some commentators expressed more local concerns about the implications of the decree. A native of Northern Bahr al Ghazal State told Radio Tamazuj that he did not think his state should have been divided.
Deng Dut stated, “Did President Kiir consult most parties in this decision he took? Because for people like us in Aweil North and West, which they now call Lol state are far from Raja which is Western Bahr al Ghazal.”
“This thing is angering most of us from Aweil North and Aweil…we should have just stayed has Aweil North and West together than with Raja which is in another state…The governor of Northern Bahr al Ghazal Akot Deng is from Aweil North and the Governor Rizik of Western Bahr al Ghazal is from Raja…this needs explanation…!”
For his part, the Twitter user ‘dekuekd’ also expressed concern about the merger of Raja with Aweil North and West but said that he still supported the Establishment Order for the most part. “Sad Raga couldn’t be on it’s own. That should be righted,” he noted.
Sirir Gabriel Yiei, a writer who supports the SPLM-IO rebels said, “Kiir is promoting tribalism and furthering conflict in the country. The annexation of Dinka to Dinka like in Pigi County, Khor Folus, Galechial, Baliet to Malakal and formation of Ruweng state is clear sponsorship of culture of tribalism.”
Similarly, Hou Tut Maluoth said, “This decree of Salva Kiir is going to create more conflict between former siblings who had been eating with one plate and have been doing intermarriage altogether and now got divided by Salva Kiir who does not know the cultural heritage of this divided family.”
Hou added that the decree would fuel the war. “It is clear that Kiir himself is a tribal master as he is regrouping Dinka tribes aside from their brothers Nuer – he will not escape this new war he is creating now.
On the other hand, Emmanuel Mayen Jeremiah Khot welcomed the order and congratulated the president. “I am very overexcited because I have my own state right now, i.e. Eastern Lakes State.”
“I have to say to H.E Gen. Salva Kiir to continue with his wonderful work. Never mind about those people who always oppose your decisions… No retreat, no surrender.”
Some of the comments quoted here have been edited for punctuation or clarity.