The press secretary of President Salva Kiir said that the president wants the Equatoria region to stop advocating for federalism and instead work for peace first.

In remarks to Bakhita Radio in Juba, Ateny Wek Ateny said Salva Kiir does not want Equatorians’ attention to be diverted by the issue, which he described as stemming from opposition leader Dr Riek Machar.

He added that Dr Machar was scheming to assume power by bringing in confusion with what he termed an ‘internal front’, the radio station reported.

The Press Secretary said President Kiir was appealing to Equatoria to suspend the demand for federalism and focus on peace settlement first.

Ateny said South Sudanese should decide in a referendum on the governance system they want afterwards.

This comes after three governors of the three states of Equatoria came out in favour of federalism, a governance system that would give them and the state parliaments exclusive rights and powers beyond the authority of Salva Kiir.