13 political parties allied to the government of President Salva Kiir have asked him to issue a presidential order to operationalize the creation of 28 states.

Joseph Ukel Abango, leader of the United Sudan African Party (USAP), claimed Wednesday that the order now has become law and should be implemented.

Ukel said he and other leaders of government-aligned political parties met Kiir on Monday. He said they requested he operationalize the 28 states order during that meeting, while also congratulating the president on ordering state governors to prepare to welcome the SPLM-IO advance team.

Ukel said Kiir asked them why they have not signed the peace agreement.

The implementation of the peace agreement includes power-sharing involving non-SPLM political parties, but so far political parties have not signed due to a dispute over who will lead them.

Ukel said they assured Kiir that differences among the political parties should not stop the implementation of the peace.