South Sudan opposition leader Dr Riek Machar has rejected 10 states plus three administrative areas that President Salva Kiir offered as one of the greatest compromises, a move that sparked fresh war sentiments.
President Kiir on Saturday relieved all the Governors of the 32 States in a republican decree read on the state television.
Kiir also dissolved all the existing state governments.
This followed a surprise announcement made by Kiir to return the country to the previous 10 states.
A meeting between Kiir and his deputies, Taban Deng and Wani Igga resolved to return the country to the former ten states and create three administrative areas.
The three administrative areas are Ruweng, Greater Pibor, and Abyei.
Kiir relegated the authority of the state governments to State Secretaries-General as care-takers and assigned Counties Executive Directors to act on behalf of local governments.
Machar rejects the offer
In a statement Saturday, Machar said his problem was with the Abyei, Ruweng and Pibor Administrative Areas which he opposed.
He said Abyei has been part of Warrap state in the 10 states configuration which he said would divide the state into two.
Ruweng is part of Unity State which he also says divides Unity state into two
Greater Pibor is part of Jonglei State and has clear boundaries.
“Therefore, the decision of the Presidency to revert to ten states and the creation of new administrative areas cannot be referred to as reverting to ten [10] states as such cannot be accepted by SPLM/SPLA [IO],” Machar said.
The parties have until next week to form a transitional government of national unity.
The determination of the number and boundaries of the states was a sticking point raised by the main opposition group, SPLM-IO, as a prerequisite to its participation in a coalition government.
