Festus Mogae, chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission in South Sudan says the creation of 28 States in the country is a complicated matter that needs to be discussed further because it is in breach of a 2015 peace deal. In December 2015, South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir dissolved the nation’s 10 regional states and created 28 new ones, a move that analysts say could undermine the recent peace agreement.
It is estimated that the almost two-year long conflict in South Sudan has displaced more than 2.2 million people….mostly from the northern oil producing states. Last year, Kiir replaced the country’s 10 states with 28 new states, a move opposed by the armed opposition, who say it violates a peace agreement that stipulates rebel leader Riek Machar must be consulted on major government issues….and this development has some mediators worried.
“The picture is mixed because of the creation of the 28 states has been a complication matter. So all the other parties other than the government are against it and we would have to discuss it in the next meeting.” Festus Mogae, Chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission
Kiir and Machar, facing international pressure and the threat of sanctions, signed a peace deal in August, but have repeatedly accused each other of ceasefire violations.
“We hope the parties will comply with the agreement in order that peace can be brought about… As you know now the donors are not forthcoming as before because they are not very pleased with the event that has taken place,” Festus Mogae
The conflict has also created a food crisis for many of the nation’s 11 million people. Oil output, the main source of income, has plummeted along with global crude prices. Humanitarians have said malnutrition is at catastrophic levels and some parts of the country are already experiencing hunger.
The conflict has killed thousands of people and seen 500,000 flee the country, according to humanitarian agencies. The signed peace agreement states that a transitional government would be created for a period of 30 months followed by an election.
