Kiir dismisses lawmakers of defunct 32 states

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday evening issued a Republican Decree relieving members of parliament for the defunct 32 states ahead of formation of the states and local government expected next week.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny earlier this week met at the statehouse J1 and agreed to expedite the formation of state and local governments.

The agreement also allowed Machar to visit his forces for the purpose of disseminating the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed by the two men in September 2018.

However, a coronavirus lockdown imposed by the government on Wednesday now make it possible for the prominent opposition leader to visit the forces as planned.

A senior member of the main armed opposition group has however condemned the lockdown and slammed it as a plot by the government to derail the planned Machar visit to his forces.