South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors for eight states

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Monday night appointed governors for eight states, after a long deadlock. 

He, however, did not appoint governors for two states – Jonglei and Upper Nile – and did not state why.

Weeks ago, South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) – a party to the peace accord – rejected Jonglei State, saying their initial demand was Upper Nile. But Dr. Riek Machar’s group, Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), says the Upper Nile belongs to them due to their prominence in the area.

Parties to the peace accord were to have a say in the administration of states.

In a Presidential decree read on State-Run TV SSBC on Monday, President Kiir reappointed Luiz Labong as the governor of Eastern Equatoria State. Mr Labong has served as a governor since his appointment in 2010.

Mr Kiir also appointed Emmanuel Adhil the governor of Central Equatoria State. Mr Adhil previously served as the governor of the now defunct Yei River State.

Other appointees were Makur Kulang (Lakes State), Bona Panek for Warrap State, and Tong Aken Ngor for Northern Bhar-el-Ghazel.

Sarah Cleto Rial, the only female governor, was assigned to Ghar-el-Ghazel, while Alfred Futio (the SPLM-IO sector commander) was appointed the governor for Western Equatoria State.

President Kiir further appointed Kuol Diem Kuol the Chief administrator for the disputed Abyei Area, Joshua Konyi as the head of Pibor Administrative Area and William Chol for Reweng Administrative Area.

According to the 2018 peace deal, the government will fully be established when parliament is constituted.