States of South Sudan

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. The decree established the new states largely along ethnic lines. A number of opposition parties challenged the constitutionality of this decree and the decree was referred to parliament for approval as a constitutional amendment. In November, the South Sudanese parliament approved the creation of the new states. In January 2017, President Salva Kiir stated a decreed of further subdivision of the country from 28 into 32 states.

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.

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.

Ten states and three areas (2020–present)

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. The states and administrative areas are grouped into the three historical regions 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.

Flag State or area Capital Governor orChief Administrator Population Area Density Region Northern Bahr el Ghazal Aweil Simon Uber Mawut 820,834 30,543 26.87 Bahr el Ghazal Western Bahr el Ghazal Wau Emmanuel Okello 358,692 91,076 3.94 Bahr el Ghazal Lakes Rumbek Rin Tueny Mabor 782,504 43,595 17.95 Bahr el Ghazal Warrap Kuajok Magok Magok Deng 1,044,217 45,567 22.92 Bahr el Ghazal Western Equatoria Yambio Alfred Futiyo Karaba 658,863 79,343 8.30 Equatoria Central Equatoria Juba Emmanuel Adil Anthony 1,193,130 43,033 27.73 Equatoria Eastern Equatoria Torit Louis Lobong Lojore 962,719 73,472 13.10 Equatoria Jonglei Bor Riek Gai Kok 1,228,824 80,926 15.18 Greater Upper Nile Unity Bentiu Riek Tap Long 399,105 37,836 22.79 Greater Upper Nile Upper Nile Malakal Budhok Ayang Kur 1,013,629 77,283 13.12 Greater Upper Nile Abyei Area Abyei Charles Abyei Jok 124,390 10,546 11.79 Bahr el Ghazal Greater Pibor Area Pibor Lokali Amae Bullen 214,676 41,962 5.12 Greater Upper Nile Ruweng Area Pariang Stefano Wieu Mialek 246,360 TBD TBD Greater Upper Nile

32 states (2017–2020)

On 14 January 2017, President Kiir issued a presidential decree that increased the number of federal states from 28 to 32.

The now defunct Eastern Nile State was split into 2 individual states, Central Upper Nile State with Malakal as its capital city and Northern Upper Nile State with Renk as its capital city. Akobo State was formed and split from Bieh State, with Akobo as its capital. It comprises Akobo county in the Greater Upper Nile Region. Maiwut State was formed and split from Latjoor State in the Greater Upper Nile Region retaining Koma, Longuchuk, and Maiwut counties. Tambura State was formed and split from Gbudwe State, with Tambura as its capital. It comprises Tambura and Nagero counties in the Equatoria Region.

List The 32 states were as follows:

State Counties Capital LastGovernor Appt. toOffice Date Refs FormerState Akobo State Akobo Akobo Johnson Gony Bilieu Jonglei Bieh State UrorNyirol Waat Moses Majiok Gatluak Jonglei Boma State PochallaPibor Pibor Sultan Ismail Konyi Jonglei Fangak State AyodFangak Ayod James Kok Ruea Jonglei Jonglei State Bor SouthTwic EastDuk Bor Philip Agwer Panyang Jonglei Northern Liech State MayomKochRubkonaGuit Bentiu Joseph Nguen Monytuil Unity Ruweng State PanriangAbiemnhom Panriang Thiaji de-Dut Deng Unity Southern Liech State MayenditLeerPanyijiar Leer Teker Riek Dong Unity Central Upper Nile State AkokaPigiBalietMalakalPanyikang Malakal James Tor Monybuny Upper Nile Fashoda State KodokManyoPanyikang Kodok Johnson Olony Upper Nile Latjor State UlangNasir Nasir Peter Gatkuoth Khor Upper Nile Maiwut State LongchukKomaMaiwut Maiwut Bol Ruach Rom Upper Nile Northern Upper Nile State RenkMabanMelut Renk Deng Akoi Gak Upper Nile Eastern Lakes State Yirol EastYirol WestAwerial Yirol Ring Tueny Mabor Ring Tueny Mabor Lakes Gok State Cueibet Cueibet Madang Majok Meen Madang Majok Meen Lakes Western Lakes State Rumbek NorthRumbek EastRumbek CenterWulu 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 SouthAweil Center Aweil Ronald Ruai Deng Ronald Ruai Deng North Bahr el Ghazal Gogrial State Gogrial WestGogrial East Kuacjok Abraham Gum Makuach Gregory Deng Kuach Aduol Warrap Tonj State Tonj NorthTonj EastTonj South Tonj Akech Tong Aleu Akech Tong Aleu Warrap Twic State Twic Mayen-Abun Bona Pariek Biar Kon Manyiel Kuol Warrap Lol State RajaAweil NorthAweil West Raja Rizik Zachariah Hassan Rizik Zachariah Hassan West Bahr el Ghazal Wau State Jur RiverBagari Wau Elias Waya Nyipouch Andrea Mayar Achor West Bahr el Ghazal Jubek State Juba Juba Augustino Jadalla Wani Augustino Jadalla Wani Central Equatoria Terekeka State TerekekaJemeizaGworTaliTigor Terekeka Juma Ali Malou Juma Ali Malou Central Equatoria Yei River State YeiLainyaMoroboKajo Keji Yei David Lokonga Moses David Lokonga Moses Central Equatoria Imatong State LopaToritIkotosMagwi Torit Natisio Loluke Manir Natisio Loluke Manir East Equatoria Kapoeta State Kapoeta NorthKapoeta EastKapoeta SouthBudi Kapoeta Louise Lobong Lojore Louise Lobong Lojore East Equatoria Amadi State MvoloMundri WestMundri East Mundri Joseph Pachiko Joseph Pachiko West Equatoria Gbudwe State YambioEzoAnzara Yambio Patrick Raphael Zamoi Badagu Daniel Remposa West Equatoria Maridi State MaridiIbba Maridi Africano Monday Africano Monday West Equatoria Tambura State TamburaNagero Tambura Patrick Raphael Zamoi Patrick Raphael Zamoi West Equatoria

Notes

28 states (2015–2017)

Bahr el Ghazal Aweil Aweil East Eastern Lakes Gogrial Gok Lol Tonj Twic Wau Western Lakes

Equatoria Amadi Gbudwe Imatong Jubek Maridi Namorunyang Terekeka Yei River

Greater Upper Nile Boma Bieh Eastern Nile Fangak Fashoda Jonglei Latjoor Northern Liech Ruweng Southern Liech

Notes

10 states (2011–2015) Flag State Capital Population Area Density Bahr el Ghazal Northern Bahr el Ghazal Aweil 820,834 30,543.30 26.87 Western Bahr el Ghazal Wau 358,692 91,075.95 3.94 Lakes Rumbek 782,504 43,595.08 17.95 Warrap Kuajok 1,044,217 45,567.24 22.92 Equatoria Western Equatoria Yambio 658,863 79,342.66 8.30 Central Equatoria Juba 1,193,130 43,033.00 27.73 Eastern Equatoria Torit 962,719 73,472.01 13.10 Greater Upper Nile Jonglei Bor 1,443,500 122,580.83 11.78 Unity Bentiu 645,465 37,836.39 17.06 Upper Nile Malakal 1,013,629 77,283.42 13.12 Total South Sudan Juba 8,923,553 644,329.37 13.85

SPLM-IO declaration

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. The Sudan Tribune reported on 1 January 2015 that Machar appointed "military governors" for several of his declared states. These states became defunct when the SPLM-IO joined the unity government formed by the R-ARCSS in February 2020.

See also List of states of South Sudan by Human Development Index List of current state governors in South Sudan ISO 3166-2:SS States of Sudan

References

External links

South Sudan States Map