Caretaker Governor of Jonglei State John Kong has urged politicians and citizens of Greater Bor not to be overexcited about the new order to divide the state in four, saying that such an administrative division is “not new.”
In a briefing in Bor on Friday, Kong told state officials that they should be neither “very happy” nor “very angry” about the decree, criticizing the atmosphere of gossip and disunity as different politicians vie for appointments into leadership of the newly divided state governments.
“After all the procedures related to the decree are approved by the national assembly, the president will bring someone to head the government of the state. …I saw people are very active now that they bring them to be new governors, before they know the how politics of the new appointment will be,” said Kong.
Kong was clear that he supports the decree of President Salva Kiir but he downplayed its likely impact, saying it would not result in complete separation of the different ethnicities as some observers were expecting.
“The division, everybody is happy. Nobody is angry about the division or the decision of Mr. President. The decision of the president… goes with the constitution and it does not affect the peace agreement.”
“We are supporting the decision of the president… and we have also to respect the decision and implement it according to the policy of the government.”
He added, “This policy of new states, this is not new. The rebels had wanted 21 states and Greater Equatoria was [also] working on those – they wanted a federal system – the rebels brought the idea of 21 states. So if you take the 21 states and add to it by 7 – there is nothing bad about it.”
He pointed out that the new states correspond to the old districts created by the British. “This division is an administrative division. Let us not think that okay, it is finished, we are divided and now we will now not have [inter-ethnic] relations among each other. That is not a correct idea.”
“For example, here for us in Jonglei State, there is nothing new. That is like before there was Bor centre, Fangak centre, there was Akobo centre, Pibor centre. And administration was running, there was no problem. It is the same thing.”
He encouraged his listeners not to be either “very happy” or “very angry” about the decision. The governor highlighted that individuals do not survive alone, but they depend on their neighbors, and he stressed that this would be the case with the newly divided states.
Moreover, the governor stated that the Establishment Order would need to be approved by parliament as a constitutional amendment. This contradicts what was said by Minister of Information Michael Makuei on 2 October.
“Previously we heard that the issue would not go to the assembly. Now we know that is not true – it will be taken to the assembly. The minister of justice will make an amendment bill and will give it to the assembly,” said Kong.