[1] It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Fangak to the west, Central Upper Nile to the north, Latjoor and Akobo to the east, and Jonglei to the south.

[2] The decree established the new states largely along ethnic lines.

A number of opposition parties and civil society groups challenged the constitutionality of the decree.

Kiir later resolved to take it to parliament for approval as a constitutional amendment.

[3] In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.