The European Union today criticized the latest South Sudanese presidential decree as a violation of the peace agreement and called on the government not to implement the order.

A high-level statement from the European Union slammed the so-called Establishment Order, in which Kiir decreed the division of South Sudan's ten states into 28 new states.

“The announcement by President Salva Kiir of the presidential order to replace the 10 existing states with 28 new states goes against the spirit and the letter of the peace agreement signed by the Government of South Sudan on August 26,” reads the EU statement.

The statement was issued by the spokesperson of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini, who is also deputy to the president of the EU Commission. EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianides also signed onto the statement.

Mogherini and Stylianides pointed out that the peace deal stipulates that decisions on the structure of the government will be made during the permanent constitution-making process, “under the oversight of the Transitional Government of National Unity and in consultation with the people of South Sudan.”

“The European Union therefore urges the President and Government of South Sudan to refrain from proceeding on this fundamental matter,” they affirmed.

The statement goes on also to condemn the resumption of hostilities in Unity State and call on the armed opposition to implement the security arrangements of the peace deal.

“The international community has consistently said that there will be consequences for those who obstruct the implementation of the peace agreement. The EU welcomes in that respect the African Union's decision to publish the commission of inquiry's report and to move ahead with the establishment of the hybrid court.”

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