[3] It was located in the Equatoria region and it bordered Yei River to the southwest, Jubek to the west, Terekeka and Jonglei to the northwest, Boma to the northeast, Namorunyang to the east, and Uganda to the south.

[4] 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.

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