A local official in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State has said the return to the original 10 states will enhance effective delivery of basic services to the population.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on the regular programme 'With the Commissioners' on Monday, Solomon Ocuho, the executive director of Torit County welcomed President Salva Kir’s compromise by cutting the 32 states back down to the original 10 — a key opposition demand — to pave the way for a transitional government of national unity.
Kiir also included on top of the 10 states, three administrative areas of Ruweng, Abyei and greater Pibor. He then sacked the governors of all 32 states and relegated the authority of the state governments to secretaries-general pending formation of the unity government.
“Since 2005 up to July 2011, we had 10 states and services were up to date and civil servants received salaries on time. The creation of 32 states has affected all states,” said Ocuho.
He added, “Resources were scattered and money went to security, but with the return of the 10 states, the money will now address the priorities”.
The local official also decried the poor roads connecting Torit to other counties, blaming it on the country’s civil war.
“Currently, our challenge is the issue of roads. The road networks to Hiyalla, Ikotos, Imatong, Bur, Loronyo, Imurok and other places are very poor. The government will now prioritize and work on this because most of these things didn’t work due to civil war,” he stressed.