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

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

The overall vision which the Government of Maridi State aims to achieve and as a matter of policy that the State Government aims to pursue is the realization of a peaceful, secured, healthy, skillful, productive, informed, cultured and ultimately economically prospered Maridi State with good accessibilities and whose populations are availed access to social services and opportunities to become innovative and progressive.

According to the national population census of 2009, the overall population of Maridi State is estimated to be 148,000 and Maridi State is a home to seven (7) ethnic groups which are Baka, Moru-Kodo, Mundu, Avukaya, Zanda, Wa’di and Wetu.

Maridi State is also bigger than Vanuatu, another country in the South Pacific with a size of about 12,189 Km²as per the World Bank report of 2021.

Maridi State is located in the Equatoria region, and it borders Western Lakes to the north, Yei River to the southeast, Gbudwe to the west, and Amadi to the east.