Raja County Commissioner James Benjamin said he stands with the people of his county rejecting President Salva Kiir's proposed "Lol State" with Aweil North and Aweil West Counties.

On 7 October, tribal chiefs in Raja County met and decided to reject the Establishment Order issued by President Salva Kiir annexing their county to Aweil West and Aweil North counties to become Lol State.

Benjamin said Raja County deserves to be a separate state because it has a big geographical area.

Meanwhile, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state Minister of Information Angelo Akech Akeen said citizens in Aweil North and Aweil West Counties have welcomed the proposed Lol State.

In a press statement, Angelo said the citizens confirmed their readiness to go to the capital of the new state when directives are issued in this regard.