States of South Sudan | |
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Category | Federated state |
Location | Republic of South Sudan |
Number | 10 states 2 administrative areas 1 area with special administrative status |
Government | |
Subdivisions |
Constitution |
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The States of South Sudan were created out of the three historic former provinces (and contemporary regions) of Bahr el Ghazal (northwest), Equatoria (southern), and Greater Upper Nile (northeast). The states are further divided into 79 counties.
In October 2015, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 that was previously established. [1] The decree established the new states largely along ethnic lines.[ citation needed ] A number[ who? ] of opposition parties challenged the constitutionality of this decree and the decree was referred to parliament for approval as a constitutional amendment. [2] In November, the South Sudanese parliament approved the creation of the new states. [3] In January 2017, President Salva Kiir stated a decreed of further subdivision of the country from 28 into 32 states. [4]
In February 2020, as a result of a peace agreement that ended the South Sudanese Civil War, the country returned to the original 10 states plus two administrative areas, Greater Pibor and Ruweng, and the special administrative status area of Abyei. [5] [6] [7]
As a result of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005, the Abyei Area is considered to be simultaneously part of the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, effectively a condominium. The Kafia Kingi area is disputed between South Sudan and Sudan and the Ilemi Triangle is disputed between South Sudan and Kenya.
Under the terms of a peace agreement signed on 22 February 2020, South Sudan is divided into ten states, two administrative areas and one area with special administrative status. [8] The states and administrative areas are grouped into the three former historical provinces of the Sudan: Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, Greater Upper Nile. Each state is headed by a Governor and administrative areas are led by Chief Administrators.
On 14 January 2017, President Kiir issued a presidential decree that increased the number of federal states from 28 to 32.
The 32 states were as follows: [15]
State | Counties | Capital | Last Governor | Appt. to Office Date | Refs | Former State |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Greater Upper Nile Region (13 States) | ||||||
Akobo State | Akobo | Akobo | Johnson Gony Bilieu | Jonglei | ||
Bieh State | Uror Nyirol | Waat | Moses Majiok Gatluak | Jonglei | ||
Boma State | Pochalla Pibor | Pibor | Sultan Ismail Konyi | Jonglei | ||
Fangak State | Ayod Fangak | Ayod | James Kok Ruea | Jonglei | ||
Jonglei State | Bor Twic East Duk | Bor | Philip Agwer Panyang | Jonglei | ||
Northern Liech State | Mayom Koch Rubkona Guit | Bentiu | Joseph Nguen Monytuil | Unity | ||
Ruweng State | Panriang Abiemnhom | Panriang | Thiaji de-Dut Deng | Unity | ||
Southern Liech State | Mayendit Leer Panyijiar | Leer | Teker Riek Dong | Unity | ||
Central Upper Nile State | Akoka Pigi Baliet Panyikang | Malakal | James Tor Monybuny | Upper Nile | ||
Fashoda State | Kodok Manyo | Kodok | Johnson Olony | Upper Nile | ||
Latjor State | Ulang Nasir | Nasir | Peter Gatkuoth Khor | Upper Nile | ||
Maiwut State | Longchuk Koma Maiwut | Maiwut | Bol Ruach Rom | Upper Nile | ||
Northern Upper Nile State | Renk Maban Melut | Renk | Deng Akoi Gak | Upper Nile | ||
Bahr El Ghazal Region (10 States) | ||||||
Eastern Lakes State | Yirol East Yirol West Awerial | Yirol | Ring Tueny Mabor | Ring Tueny Mabor | Lakes | |
Gok State | Cueibet | Cueibet | Madang Majok Meen | Madang Majok Meen | Lakes | |
Western Lakes State | Rumbek North Rumbek East Rumbek Center Wulu | Rumbek | Abraham Makoi Bol | Abraham Makoi Bol | Lakes | |
Aweil East State | Aweil East | Wanjok | Deng Deng Akuei | Deng Deng Akuei | North Bahr el Ghazal | |
Aweil State | Aweil South Aweil Center | Aweil | Ronald Ruai Deng | Ronald Ruai Deng | North Bahr el Ghazal | |
Gogrial State | Gogrial West Gogrial East | Kuacjok | Abraham Gum Makuach | Gregory Deng Kuach Aduol | Warrap | |
Tonj State | Tonj North Tonj East Tonj South | Tonj | Akech Tong Aleu | Akech Tong Aleu | Warrap | |
Twic State | Twic | Mayen-Abun | Bona Pariek Biar | Kon Manyiel Kuol | Warrap | |
Lol State | Raja Aweil North Aweil West | Raja | Rizik Zachariah Hassan | Rizik Zachariah Hassan | West Bahr el Ghazal | |
Wau State | Jur River Bagari | Wau | Elias Waya Nyipouch | Andrea Mayar Achor | West Bahr el Ghazal | |
Equatoria Region (9 States) | ||||||
Jubek State | Juba * | Juba | Augustino Jadalla Wani | Augustino Jadalla Wani | Central Equatoria | |
Terekeka State | Terekeka Jemeiza Gwor Tali Tigor | Terekeka | Juma Ali Malou | Juma Ali Malou | Central Equatoria | |
Yei River State | Yei Lainya Morobo Kajo Keji | Yei | David Lokonga Moses | David Lokonga Moses | Central Equatoria | |
Imatong State | Lopa Torit Ikotos Magwi | Torit | Natisio Loluke Manir | Natisio Loluke Manir | East Equatoria | |
Kapoeta State | Kapoeta North Kapoeta East Kapoeta South Budi | Kapoeta | Louise Lobong Lojore | Louise Lobong Lojore | East Equatoria | |
Amadi State | Mvolo Mundri West Mundri East | Mundri | Joseph Pachiko | Joseph Pachiko | West Equatoria | |
Gbudwe State | Yambio Ezo Anzara | Yambio | Patrick Raphael Zamoi | Badagu Daniel Remposa | West Equatoria | |
Maridi State | Maridi Ibba | Maridi | Africano Monday | Africano Monday | West Equatoria | |
Tambura State | Tambura Nagero | Tambura | Patrick Raphael Zamoi | Patrick Raphael Zamoi | West Equatoria | |
Note:
* - includes Bari, Lokoya and Nyangwara communities
Bahr el Ghazal | Equatoria | Greater Upper Nile |
Flag | State | Capital | Population (2010) [9] | Area (km2) [9] | Density (/km2) | Region |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Bahr el Ghazal | Aweil | 820,834 | 30,543.30 | 26.87 | Bahr el Ghazal | |
Western Bahr el Ghazal | Wau | 358,692 | 91,075.95 | 3.94 | Bahr el Ghazal | |
Lakes | Rumbek | 782,504 | 43,595.08 | 17.95 | Bahr el Ghazal | |
Warrap | Kuajok | 1,044,217 | 45,567.24 | 22.92 | Bahr el Ghazal | |
Western Equatoria | Yambio | 658,863 | 79,342.66 | 8.30 | Equatoria | |
Central Equatoria | Juba | 1,193,130 | 43,033.00 | 27.73 | Equatoria | |
Eastern Equatoria | Torit | 962,719 | 73,472.01 | 13.10 | Equatoria | |
Jonglei | Bor | 1,443,500 | 122,580.83 | 11.78 | Greater Upper Nile | |
Unity | Bentiu | 645,465 | 37,836.39 | 17.06 | Greater Upper Nile | |
Upper Nile | Malakal | 1,013,629 | 77,283.42 | 13.12 | Greater Upper Nile | |
South Sudan | Juba | 8,923,553 | 644,329.37 | 13.85 |
On 22 December 2014, leader of the SPLM-IO and former vice president Riek Machar declared the 10 states of South Sudan dissolved and the formation of 21 new states in a federal system. The declaration was not recognised by the South Sudanese government. [16] The Sudan Tribune reported on 1 January 2015 that Machar appointed "military governors" for several of his declared states. [17] These states became defunct when the SPLM-IO joined the unity government formed by the R-ARCSS in February 2020.
The South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), formerly the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), is the army of the Republic of South Sudan. The SPLA was founded as a guerrilla movement against the government of Sudan in 1983 and was a key participant of the Second Sudanese Civil War, led by John Garang. After Garang's death in 2005, Salva Kiir was named the SPLA's new Commander-in-Chief. As of 2010, the SPLA was divided into divisions of 10,000–14,000 soldiers.
The Greater Upper Nile is a region of northeastern South Sudan. It is named for the White Nile, a tributary of the Nile River in North and East Africa.
The geography of South Sudan describes the physical features of South Sudan, a country in East Africa. South Sudan is a landlocked country and borders – clockwise – Sudan from the north, Ethiopia from the east, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the south and the Central African Republic from the west.
Ethnic violence in South Sudan has a long history among South Sudan's varied ethnic groups. South Sudan has 64 tribes with the largest being the Dinka, who constitute about 35% of the population and predominate in government. The second largest are the Nuers. Conflict is often aggravated among nomadic groups over the issue of cattle and grazing land and is part of the wider Sudanese nomadic conflicts.
The South Sudan Democratic Movement (SSDM), sometimes called the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army (SSDM/A), was a South Sudanese militant group. Along with its armed wing, the South Sudan Defence Army (SSDA), rebelled against the government of South Sudan led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.
David Yau Yau was a Governor of Boma State and the Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area of South Sudan. He was previously the leader of a Murle insurrection against the South Sudanese government.
The South Sudanese Civil War was a multi-sided civil war in South Sudan between forces of the government and opposition forces. In December 2013, President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar and 10 others of attempting a coup d'état. Machar denied trying to start a coup and fled to lead the SPLM – in opposition (SPLM-IO). Fighting broke out between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and SPLM-IO, igniting the civil war. Ugandan troops were deployed to fight alongside the South Sudanese government. The United Nations has peacekeepers in the country as part of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Gbudwe State was a state of South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was created from Western Equatoria state. Tambura State was split from Gbudwe State on January 14, 2017. Gbudwe State was located in the Equatoria region. Gbudwe bordered the states of Lol, Maridi, Tambura, and Western Lakes, and also the province of Haut-Uélé in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haut-Mbomou in the Central African Republic. The state had a population of 364,272 in 2008.
Boma State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and was formerly part of the state of Jonglei. The state bordered Akobo State, Imatong State, Jonglei State, Kapoeta State, Bieh State, Terekeka State and the country of Ethiopia to the east.
Bieh State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. 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.
Latjoor was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Eastern Nile to the north, Eastern Bieh to the south, and Ethiopia to the east.
Northern Liech was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Ruweng to the north, Western Bieh to the east, Southern Liech to the south, Tonj to the south, and Gogrial and Twic to the west.
Eastern Nile was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 14 January 2017 when it was divided into Central Upper Nile State and Northern Upper Nile State. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it was part of the former states of Upper Nile and Jonglei. The state bordered the states of Eastern Bieh, Latjoor, Western Bieh, Western Nile, and the country of Ethiopia to the east.
The Ruweng Administrative Area is an administrative area in South Sudan. The area was known as Ruweng State between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020 when it was a state of South Sudan.
Fangak State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Ruweng to the northwest, Western Nile to the northeast, Eastern Nile to the east, Eastern Bieh to the southeast, Jonglei to the south, Southern Liech to the southwest, and Northern Liech to the west.
Fashoda State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan, and it bordered the country of Sudan to the north, and the southern Sudanese states of Eastern Nile to the east, Western Bieh to the southwest, and Ruweng to the west.
Akobo was a state in South Sudan that existed between 14 January 2017 and 22 February 2020.
This article lists events from the year 2019 in South Sudan
Timothy Taban Juch is a South Sudanese politician and the former governor of Akobo State in South Sudan.
Kuol D. Kuol is a former South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SPLA) general and the chief administrator of the Abyei Area since June 29, 2020.