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.

States of South Sudan
CategoryFederated state
LocationSouth Sudan
Number10 states
2 administrative areas
1 area with special administrative status
Government
Subdivisions

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.

Ten states and three areas (2020–present)

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The administrative subdivisions of South Sudan grouped in the three historical provinces of:

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.

Flag State or area Capital Governor or
Chief Administrator
Population
(2010)[9]
Area
(km2)[9]
Density
(/km2)
Region
  Northern Bahr el Ghazal Aweil Tong Aken Ngor 820,834 30,543.30 26.87 Bahr el Ghazal
  Western Bahr el Ghazal Wau Sarah Cleto Rial 358,692 91,075.95 3.94 Bahr el Ghazal
  Lakes Rumbek Rin Tueny Mabor[10] 782,504 43,595.08 17.95 Bahr el Ghazal
  Warrap Kuajok Gen. Kuol Muor Muor[11] 1,044,217 45,567.24 22.92 Bahr el Ghazal
  Western Equatoria Yambio Alfred Futiyu 658,863 79,342.66 8.30 Equatoria
  Central Equatoria Juba Emmanuel Adil Anthony 1,193,130 43,033.00 27.73 Equatoria
  Eastern Equatoria Torit Louis Lobong Lojore 962,719 73,472.01 13.10 Equatoria
  Jonglei Bor Denay Jock Chagor 1,228,824 80,926.00 TBD Greater Upper Nile
  Unity Bentiu Joseph Monytuil 399,105 37,836.39 22.79 Greater Upper Nile
  Upper Nile Malakal Budhok Ayang Kur[12] 1,013,629 77,283.42 13.12 Greater Upper Nile
  Abyei Area Abyei Kuol Deim Kuol 124,390 10,546.00 TBD Bahr el Ghazal
  Greater Pibor Area Pibor Lokali Amae Bullen[13] 214,676 41,962.00 TBD Greater Upper Nile
  Ruweng Area Pariang Stefano Wieu Mialek[14] 246,360 TBD TBD Greater Upper Nile

32 states (2017–2020)

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The 32 states of South Sudan grouped in the three historical provinces of the Sudan

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

List

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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

28 states (2015–2017)

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The 28 states of South Sudan grouped in the three historical provinces of the Sudan
  1. – containing the national capital city of Juba
  2. – earlier called Eastern Bieh
  3. – earlier called Western Bieh
  4. – earlier called Western Nile

10 states (2011–2015)

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The former ten states of South Sudan grouped in the three historical provinces of the Sudan
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

SPLM-IO declaration

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21 States of South Sudan as declared by the SPLM-IO

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.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  3. ^ "South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors of 28 new states". Sudan Tribune.
  4. ^ "South Sudanese President creates four more states – Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". www.sudantribune.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  5. ^ "South Sudan Kiir agrees to re-establish the 10 states - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". www.sudantribune.com. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Kiir agrees to relinquish controversial 32 states". Radio Tamazuj. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  7. ^ @dekuekd (15 February 2020). "So it has been decided that..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "After 6 years of war, will peace finally come to South Sudan?".
  9. ^ a b c d "Statistical Yearbook for Southern Sudan 2010" (PDF). Southern Sudan Centre for Census, Statistics and Evaluation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  10. ^ "South Sudan's Kiir sacks Lakes state governor". 8 June 2021.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Nhial, Cham (27 November 2023). "president-kiir-relieves-three-ministers-warrap-governor/". Eye Radio. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Budhok Ayang Kur appointed Governor of Upper Nile state". South Sudan FP. 29 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  13. ^ "New Pibor chief administrator vows to restore peace, security". Radio Tamazuj. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  14. ^ "South Sudan's Kiir sacks Ruweng chief administrator". 6 June 2022. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  15. ^ "The 32 Federal States of the Republic of South Sudan". paanluelwel.com. 22 January 2017.
  16. ^ "Uganda: Citizens in Uganda Welcome Rebel Formation of 21 States". allAfrica.com. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  17. ^ "South Sudan: Machar Appoints Top Rebel Command, State Governors". allAfrica.com. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
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