The government said the creation of more eighteen states in a presidential establishment order on Friday has never violated the Peace Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan.
Government spokesperson Michael Makui says the new states would enrich the demands of citizens for federalism, adding that all provisions in the peace agreement would remain untouched, Radio Bakhita reported.
Presidential Legal Advisor Laurence Korbandy says the presidential order did not violate the constitution, and that the parliament would amend article 162 of the constitution to incorporate the new states.
President Salva Kiir last week issued a republican order increasing the number of states from ten to 28.