A group of mostly Shilluk rebels in South Sudan's Upper Nile region says they will lay down their weapons if President Salva Kiir's order to create 28 states is cancelled.

General Yoanes Okich, head of the Tiger Faction New Forces, said Sunday his forces would accept to lay down weapons and accept negotiations with the government if Kiir abided by South Sudan's ten states.

The 28 states proposal places Upper Nile capital Malakal within the Dinka-dominated "Eastern Nile state," while the Shilluk-dominated "Western Nile state" is drawn to not include Malakal town.

Okich denied his side is fighting an ethnic war and said that if their demand is met they would fold their arms and allow themselves to be killed.

“Our demands are clear. We are not to wage any war against a particular community," he said.

"We are waging a war against injustice, lack of equality and personification of institutions. Salva Kiir is not our enemy, the Jieng (Dinka) council of elders is not our enemy, but they are standing on our way to administering justice, equality, and now they want to take our land," he said.

He said he participated in the meeting in which leaders of different factions have presented their proposals about the conflict and most participants found out they have common grievances, though using different approaches and so they wanted a unified position.

"There is nothing we want apart from peaceful dialogue. We want the government to respond peacefully to our demands, respond constitutionally to our demands. But if it is going to respond violently like they did, then we are not going to stand and fold our arms," he said.

“We are not scared of any force and we are not scared to fight and to defend ourselves. We will fight. We know for a fact that the decision of President Salva Kiir and his government to create 28 states was not based on anything. People were not consulted and this why it has created a lot of concerns. It is not only our movement which is concerned. Everybody is concerned," he said.