A group of women and youth aligned to the ruling SPLM Party on Friday demonstrated peacefully in Torit State, demanding for the creation of more new states.

The group’s petition letter was addressed to the state governor and the body monitoring South Sudan’s ceasefire (CTSAMVM).

 “We reiterate the need to have four states in the former Eastern Equatoria State which was echoed during IBC [Independent Boundary Commission] consultative meetings with Torit and Kapoeta States stakeholders on 18th May, 2019,” the petition stated.

The state governor, Tobiolo Alberio Oromo acknowledged the group’s petition and vowed to forward it for further considerations.

“I have received your petition which you brought through my office to be forwarded through CTSAMVM to IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] Council of Ministers. Because of your popular demand as the people of Torit for more states, I am going to endorse it and you will give it to the CTSAMVM,” Oromo said.

“As the government of Torit, we will not deny you the truth because it is you the people who brought this peace and it is you the people of Torit who brought the independence of South Sudan,” he stressed.

The head of CTSAMVM in Eastern Equatoria, Col. Sherif Mukhtar confirmed receiving the petition, saying they are working for peace.

“As you know here, the CTSAMVM is working for peace and everyone here is calling for this in South Sudan. I received your message, your letter and will submit it to my executive,” he assured.

The CTSAMVM is mandated by the regional bloc IGAD to monitor and verify the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

President Salva Kiir, opposition leader Riek Machar and a handful of other groups signed a peace deal in September 2018.

The roll-out of the peace agreement, however, has been delayed by disputes over the number of states and security arrangements. Last week, government and opposition negotiators ended three days of meetings without an agreement on the number of states.

The government said a referendum is the only way to break a deadlock over the number of states and their boundaries.