The President of South Sudan yesterday issued a decree appointing David Yau Yau head of Greater Pibor Area Administration, according to an announcement on South Sudan National TV.

This comes after the 9 May peace deal between the South Sudanese government and the SSDM Cobra Faction led by Gen. David Yau Yau.

The agreement made Greater Pibor Area Administration largely autonomous from Jonglei State as an area “annexed under the Presidency.”

Under the terms of the peace agreement, Greater Pibor will consist of Pibor and most of Pochalla counties, and will be supported by a special development fund managed by the national presidency.

According to protocol, the chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Area is to have the same status as that of a state governor.

The appointment late on Wednesday came after David Yau Yau handed over to the president SSDM’s nominations for the appointees of the new administration.

The ex-rebel leader while speaking on SSTV before the announcement of Kiir’s decree said the SSDM Cobra Faction’s proposal included two people who should be considered by the president to be the leader of the new Area Administration.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday just ahead of the president’s announcement, the current County Commissioner of Pibor welcomed the new administration of Greater Pibor .

Commissioner Joshua Konyi praised the president for making Pibor into ‘Greater’ Pibor, saying relations among the tribes would remain calm after this change.

He also commented on his own position as commissioner, which could be changed as the county is expected to be sub-divided before appointment of new commissioner.

“What is important is that there is peace – I would rather see peace in Greater Pibor Area than to be commissioner without peace,” he stated.

He stressed the new government of Greater Pibor area should have good relations with neighboring areas including different tribes of Jonglei.

“We are still under the leadership of Jonglei as I heard from the president but until now the president has not given full details on whether people from Greater Pibor should serve in the Jonglei government or not,” he said.

File photo: David Yau Yau (Al Jazeera)

Related:

Jonglei politician expects Yau Yau to head Pibor Administration (24 July)