The former governor of South Sudan’s Western Lakes State, John Deng Mamer was sacked by the president for failure to deliver services to citizens, a presidential spokesperson said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, Ateny Wek Ateny said Governor Mamer was removed after less than three months in office due to the unstable security situation in Western Lakes state and his failure to control it.

Ateny said the former governor also carried out arbitrary arrests in the state and failed to perform as required since he was appointed.

On Monday, President Salva Kiir issued presidential decrees sacking John Deng Mamer and Governors Jal Malith Jal (Aweil State), James Monybuny (Central Upper Nile) and Awer Dau Agany of Northern Upper Nile.

Ateny pointed out that said President Kiir was using his powers in the constitution to dismiss and appoint state governors.

The constitution gives the president powers to "remove a state governor and/or dissolve a state legislative assembly in the event of a crisis in the state that threatens national security and territorial integrity."

James Okuk, a South Sudanese political analyst, said that the new states are in chaos because no scientific study was done prior to their establishment.

He said most governors are not present in their states, while some of them are trying to administer state institutions from the capital, Juba.

"Under these decisions and chaos in the states, development cannot be achieved in the states," said Okuk, also a lecturer at the University of Juba.