South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar said President Salva Kiir should rescind his decree establishing 28 states and said Kiir should have brought it to JMEC for consideration.

On Thursday night, Kiir announced through state-run SSTV the dismissal of the ten governors and dissolving of ten states and appointment of 28 governors in the new states. The creation of 28 states could jeopardize the peace agreement because the peace deal is based on power-sharing between Kiir, Machar, and other groups in South Sudan's ten states.

"We are shocked by this act," Machar said of Kiir's order. "Since our advance team is already in Juba and JMEC is functioning, the government should have tabled this proposal to create 28 states for discussion in JMEC."

JMEC--the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission--is the international body meant to oversee and implement South Sudan's peace agreement. It is led by former Botswana President Festus Mogae and includes representatives of the government, rebels, IGAD, African Union, United Nations, US, UK, Norway, and China.

"[T]he government acted unilaterally, totally disregarding the agreement and its implementation institutions," Machar said. "This raises serious concerns about the commitment of GRSS to the agreement."

Machar further called on IGAD, the regional bloc which helped broker the peace deal, to condemn the order and "use all leverages at their disposal to pressure President Kiir to withdraw its decision."

CEPO urges JMEC to act 'urgently'

Separately, civil society group Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) said in statements that JMEC should respond to Kiir's 28 states decree.

"The big responsibility for explaining the implications of the newly declared 28 states is resting on the shoulders of JMEC," the civil society group said. "CEPO is urging JMEC, IGAD, Troika and AU leadership to act on the matters of the recent political development done by the government urgently."

CEPO said that the signatories to the peace agreement need to give peace a chance.

"Whatever political calculations that is going on, focusing on making peace and stable prevail is paramount," CEPO said.

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