[3] It was located in the Equatoria region and it bordered Imatong to the west, Boma to the north, Ethiopia to the east, and Kenya 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.