The Lol State was a state of South Sudan with the capital in Raga,[1] that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020.[2] It was located in the Bahr el Ghazal region, which is in the northwest section of the country. Lol state bordered Haut-Mbomou and Haute-Kotto in the Central African Republic to the west, South Darfur and East Darfur in Sudan to the north, the disputed region of Kafia Kingi to the northwest, Aweil East State to the northeast, Aweil State to the east, Gbudwe State to the south, and Wau State to the southeast. The state was created alongside 27 other states after a decree issuing the creation of 28 states took place.[3] It was dissolved at the conclusion of the South Sudanese Civil War.
| Lol State | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of South Sudan | |||||||||||||
| 2015–2020 | |||||||||||||
 The administrative subdivisions of Sudan in 2015, including the Lol State. | |||||||||||||
| Capital | Raga | ||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • Type | State | ||||||||||||
| Governor | |||||||||||||
• 2015–2020 | Rezik Zechariah Hassan | ||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||
• Established | 2 October 2015 | ||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 22 February 2020 | ||||||||||||
| Contained within | |||||||||||||
| • Country |  South Sudan | ||||||||||||
| • Region | Bahr el Ghazal | ||||||||||||
| Political subdivisions | 11 counties (2015–2016) 14 counties (2016–2020) | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
History
editOn 2 October 2015, President Salva Kiir issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 constitutionally established states.[3] 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.[4] In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.[5] As a result, Lol State was formed from the counties of Raga County in Western Bahr el Ghazal and Aweil North County and Aweil West County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, encompassing a region consisting of the majority of the Lol River and its western tributaries.
Rezik Zechariah Hassan was appointed as Governor on 24 December 2015.[6]
On 22 February 2020, President Salva Kiir reverted the 28 states back original ten states at the conclusion of the South Sudanese Civil War. Lol State has since been reincorporated back into Western Bahr el Ghazal and Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
Geography
editAdministrative counties
editAfter the split up, Lol State broke down even further for a total of 11 counties.[7] Three new additional counties were created later on 6 October 2016 to bring the total of 14.[8] The 14 counties are part of the 180 counties in South Sudan. The 14 counties are consisted of the following:[8]
- Former Raga (Raja) County:
- Eri; headquarters: Ere
- Kuru; headquarters: Uyu-Kuku
- Ringi; headquarters: Boro
- Former Aweil North County:
- Korok East; headquarters: Maper Dut Thou
- Korok West; headquarters: Jach
- Malual Centre; headquarters: Maper Dut Wieu
- Malual North; headquarters: Gok Machar
- Ariath; headquarters: Ariath
- Korok Centre; headquarters: Mayen Ulem
- Former Aweil West County:
- Gomjuer East; headquarters: Wedwil
- Gomjuer West; headquarters: Nyamlel
- Majakbai; headquarters: Majakbai
- Marialbai; headquarters: Marialbai
- Gomjuer Centre; headquarters: unknown
Towns and cities
editThe capital and largest city of the state of Lol was Raga. Other towns in Lol State included Gossinga and Deim Zubeir.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ "South Sudan army says "bandits" repulsed from Lol state capital". Sudan Tribune. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ Mutambo, Aggrey. "S. Sudan govt agrees to reduce states to 10 to maintain peace". The East African. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ a b "Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors of 28 new states". Sudan Tribune. 25 December 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "South Sudan's President appoints 28 Governors, defies peace agreement". South Sudan News Agency. 24 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016.
- ^ "S. Sudan's Kiir approves creation of 11 counties in Lol state". Sudan Tribune. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Lol governor creates 3 new additional counties, appoints new officials". Radio Tamazuj. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ "Deim Zubeir, Sudan - Geographical Names, map, geographic coordinates". Geographic.org. 1993-09-24. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ^ "Gossinga, South Sudan - Geographical Names, map, geographic coordinates". Geographic.org. Retrieved 26 October 2016.