# East Sepik Province

East Sepik is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Wewak. East Sepik has an estimated population of 450,530 people (2011 census) and is 43,426 km square in size. Its density is 10.4 people per square kilometer.

## History

Cherubim Dambui was appointed as East Sepik's first premier by Prime Minister Michael Somare upon the creation of the provincial government in 1976. Dambui remained interim premier until 1979, when he became East Sepik's permanent premier with a full term. He remained in office until 1983.

## Geography

Wewak, the provincial capital, is located on the coast of East Sepik. There are a scattering of islands off shore, and coastal ranges dominate the landscape just inland of the coast. The remainder of the province's geography is dominated by the Sepik River, which is one of the largest rivers in the world in terms of water flow and is known for flooding—the river's level can alter by as much as five metres in the course of the year as it rises and falls. The southern areas of the province are taken up by the Hunstein Range and other mountain ranges which form the central cordillera and feed the Sepik River.

## Districts and LLGs

Each province in Papua New Guinea has one or more districts, and each district has one or more Local Level Government (LLG) areas. For census purposes, the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units.
| District | District Capital | LLG Name |
| Ambunti-Dreikikier District | Ambunti | Ambunti Rural |
| Ambunti-Dreikikier District | Ambunti | Tunap-Hunstein Range Rural |
| Ambunti-Dreikikier District | Ambunti | Gawanga Rural |
| Ambunti-Dreikikier District | Ambunti | Dreikikier Rural |
| Angoram District | Angoram | Angoram-Middle Sepik Rural |
| Angoram District | Angoram | Keram Rural |
| Angoram District | Angoram | Karawari Rural |
| Angoram District | Angoram | Marienberg |
| Angoram District | Angoram | Yuat Rural |
| Maprik District | Maprik | Albiges-Mablep Rural |
| Maprik District | Maprik | Bumbita-Muhian Rural |
| Maprik District | Maprik | Maprik-Wora Rural |
| Maprik District | Maprik | Yamil-Tamaui Rural |
| Wewak District | Wewak | Boikin-Dagua Rural |
| Wewak District | Wewak | Turubu Rural |
| Wewak District | Wewak | Wewak Islands Rural |
| Wewak District | Wewak | Wewak Local |
| Wewak District | Wewak | Wewak Urban |
| Wosera-Gawi District | Wosera | Burui-Kunai Rural |
| Wosera-Gawi District | Wosera | Gawi Rural |
| Wosera-Gawi District | Wosera | North Wosera Rural |
| Wosera-Gawi District | Wosera | South Wosera Rural |
| Yangoru-Saussia District | Yangoru | East Yangoru Rural |
| Yangoru-Saussia District | Yangoru | Numbor Rural |
| Yangoru-Saussia District | Yangoru | Sausso Rural |
| Yangoru-Saussia District | Yangoru | West Yangoru Rural |

## Provincial leaders

The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1976 to 1995. Following reforms taking effect that year, the national government reassumed some powers, and the role of Premier was replaced by a position of Governor, to be held by the winner of the province-wide seat in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.

### Premiers (1976–1995)

| Premier | Term |
| Cherubim Dambui | 1976–1983 |
| Jonathan Sengi | 1983–1987 |
| Bruce Samban | 1987–1991 |
| Provincial government suspended | 1991–1993 |
| Alex Anisi | 1993–1995 |

### Governors (1995–present)

| Governor | Term |
| Michael Somare | 1995–1999 |
| Arthur Somare | 1999–2003 |
| Henry Ariro | 2003–2005 |
| Peter Waranaka | 2005–2012 |
| Michael Somare | 2012-2017 |
| Allan Bird | 2017–2022 |
| Allan Bird | 2022-present |

## Members of the National Parliament

The province and each district is represented by a Member of the National Parliament. There is one provincial electorate and each district is an open electorate.
| Electorate | Member |
| East Sepik Provincial | Allan Bird |
| Ambunti-Dreikikir Open | Johnson Wapunai |
| Angoram Open | Salio Waipo |
| Maprik Open | Gabriel Kapris |
| Wewak Open | Stanley Muts Samban |
| Wosera-Gaui Open | Joseph Yopyyopy |
| Yangoru-Saussia Open | Richard Maru |