Governor Joseph Bakosoro, an Equatorian politician who has been calling for the transformation of South Sudan into a federalist system of government, has criticized a plan by the SPLM-IO rebel leader Riek Machar to create 21 states. 

Machar claims to be fighting for a ‘federal’ system of government. He recently announced a plan to divide South Sudan from 10 states into 21 states, saying this was in line with his plans to create a federal system in the country.

But his plan is at odds with that of Bakosoro and other Equatorian federalists who want to preserve and strengthen the existing states rather than divide them. This form of federalism aims to devolve powers from the national government in Juba and give more autonomy and power to state governors and legislatures.

“Our view is that the ten states that we have already should remain as they are,” the governor said in an interview with Radio Tamazuj today.

Bakosoro, who won the Western Equatoria governorship as an independent candidate in an election in 2010, noted that the existing ten states are still struggling to develop their capacities.

“If we create new small ones, where will we get the money to develop them?”

He stressed the priority should be development of the existing states. Once they become developed, then the creation of new states could be considered.

The states themselves “should have power” – including means of running their own administration and directing their own development, he said.

Bakosoro also insisted that his vision is not one for Equatorians alone: “All of the South Sudanese want federalism – but federalism will not come by just demanding it – it must come into the constitution of South Sudan.”

The governor was also asked about a rebel proposal for a 30/70 divide of resources between state and national governments, whereby for example a portion of oil revenues from production in Unity State would be owed to Unity State.

He declined to comment on this particular ratio but seemed open to consideration of the idea in principle. “If the constitution says 30% to the state and 70% to the federal government, then welcome. But we are going by the constitutional route.”

Citing the example of customs taxes on the border of Western Equatoria with neighboring countries, he suggested that after constitutional changes it may be possible for a portion of such revenues to be retained by the state government rather than being remitted entirely to Juba. 

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