South Sudan: Peace Deal in Jeopardy Over Kiir's New States

Monday October 12, 2015

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South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has basically deprived rebel leader Riek Machar of all the oil resources he was to preside over in the transitional government by unilaterally creating 18 new states.

The increase of the states from 10 to 28 through a presidential decree has placed areas with the highest concentration of oil resources in Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile in the hands of President Kiir's Dinka community.

This has created tension between the Nuer, Shiluk and Dinka in Unity and Upper Nile States, with the first two communities accusing President Kiir of carving out the oil-rich areas for his community. Dr Machar's side said it is only parliament that can change the names of states.

The former detainees, the delegation of European Union to South Sudan, the Troika -- consisting of the US, UK and Norway, who contribute the largest funds for the peace process -- have all rejected President Kiir's move on the grounds that it is likely to undermine the implementation of the power-sharing deal.

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