# States of South Sudan

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
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 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.
| State or area | Capital | Governor or Chief Administrator | Population (2010) | Area (km$^2$) | Density (/km$^2$) | Region |
| Northern Bahr el Ghazal | Aweil | Simon Uber Mawut | 820,834 | 30,543.30 | 26.87 | Bahr el Ghazal |
| Western Bahr el Ghazal | Wau | Emmanuel Okello | 358,692 | 91,075.95 | 3.94 | Bahr el Ghazal |
| Lakes | Rumbek | Rin Tueny Mabor | 782,504 | 43,595.08 | 17.95 | Bahr el Ghazal |
| Warrap | Kuajok | Magok Magok Deng | 1,044,217 | 45,567.24 | 22.92 | Bahr el Ghazal |
| Western Equatoria | Yambio | Alfred Futiyo Karaba | 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 | 15.18 | Greater Upper Nile |
| Unity | Bentiu | Riek Tap Long | 399,105 | 37,836.39 | 22.79 | Greater Upper Nile |
| Upper Nile | Malakal | Budhok Ayang Kur | 1,013,629 | 77,283.42 | 13.12 | Greater Upper Nile |
| Abyei Area | Abyei | Charles Abyei Jok | 124,390 | 10,546.00 | 11.79 | Bahr el Ghazal |
| Greater Pibor Area | Pibor | Lokali Amae Bullen | 214,676 | 41,962.00 | 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 | Last Governor | 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)

* – containing the national capital city of Juba
* – earlier called Eastern Bieh
* – earlier called Western Bieh
* – earlier called Western Nile

## 10 states (2011–2015)

| State | Capital | Population (2010) | Area (km$^2$) | Density (/km$^2$) | 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

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.