Western Lakes was a state in
South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...
that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the
Bahr el Ghazal Bahr el-Ghazal (Arabic بحر الغزال , also transliterated ''Bahr al-Ghazal'', ''Baḩr al-Ghazāl'', ''Bahr el-Gazel'', or versions of these without the hyphen) may refer to two distinct places, both named after ephemeral or dry rivers.
Chad ...
region and was part of the former state of
Lakes State. It bordered
Amadi State
Amadi State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. Amadi state formed from Western Equatoria state on 2 October 2015, following a decree that established the state along with 27 other states. It was lo ...
,
Eastern Lakes State
Eastern Lakes State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it bordered Southern Liech to the north, Western States to the west, Amadi to the southwes ...
,
Gbudwe State
Gbudwe State was a state of South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was created from Western Equatoria state. Tambura State was split from Gbudwe State on January 14, 2017. Gbudwe State was located in the Equat ...
,
Gok,
Maridi State,
Southern Liech State
Southern Liech State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Northern Liech to the north, Western Bieh to the east, Jonglei
Jonglei Stat ...
, and
Tonj State
Tonj State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it bordered Wau to the west, Gbudwe to the southwest, Gogrial to the northwest, Northern Liech to the ...
.
History
Before Western Lakes State was formed, it was part of
Lakes State. On 2 October 2015, President
Salva Kiir
Salva (Latin for "Save") may refer to:
People
*Francisco Salva Campillo (1751-1828), Spanish scientist
* Ramon d'Salva (born 1921), Filipino actor
* Héctor Salva (1939-2015), Uruguayan football midfielder
*Salva Kiir Mayardit (born 1951), South ...
issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 constitutionally established states. 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. In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.
Abraham Makoi Bol Abraham Makoi Bol has been the Governor of Western Lakes State, South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered ...
was appointed as the governor on 24 December 2015. Makoi was removed from office on 27 February 2017 on the orders of President Kiir, with
Matur Chut Dhuol being appointed as new governor.
Chut had already served as governor of Lakes State before its dissolution.
Geography
Western Lakes State is located in the
Bahr el Ghazal Bahr el-Ghazal (Arabic بحر الغزال , also transliterated ''Bahr al-Ghazal'', ''Baḩr al-Ghazāl'', ''Bahr el-Gazel'', or versions of these without the hyphen) may refer to two distinct places, both named after ephemeral or dry rivers.
Chad ...
region and it borders the states of
Tonj
Tonj is a city in South Sudan.
Location
The city is located in ''Tonj South County'', Warrap State, in northwest South Sudan. Its location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country.
It lies on ...
to the north and west,
Southern Liech
Southern Liech State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Northern Liech to the north, Western Bieh to the east, Jonglei to the southea ...
to the northeast,
Maridi
Maridi is a town in South Sudan.
Location
Maridi is located in Maridi County, Western Equatoria State, near the international border between South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This location lies approximately , by road, west of ...
to the south,
Amadi
Amedi or Amadiya ( ku, ئامێدی, Amêdî, ; Syriac: , Amədya), is a town in the Duhok Governorate of Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It is built on a mesa in the broader Great Zab river valley.
Etymology
According to Ali ibn al-Athir, the name ...
to the southeast,
Gbudwe
Gbudwe Bazingbi (c.1835, also called Yambio) was the Azande King in South Sudan from 1870–1905.
His real name was Mbio, which means "a kind of small antelope", but he renamed himself "Gbudwe", also written as Gbudue, meaning "to tear out ...
and
Gok to the west, and
Eastern Lakes to the east.
Administrative divisions
After the split up, Western Lakes State broke down even further for a total of 9 counties in the state. The 9 counties are part of the 180 counties in South Sudan. The 9 counties are consisted of the following:
* Former
Rumbek Center County
Rumbek Center County is an administrative area (county) located in Lakes State, South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Afr ...
:
** Amongping; headquarters: Amongpiny
** Malek; headquarters: Malek
** Rumbek; headquarters: Rumbek
* Former
Rumbek East County
Rumbek East County is an administrative area (county) located in Lakes State, South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Afric ...
:
** Eastern Bhar Naam; headquarters: Aduel
** Western Bhar Naam; headquarters: Pacong
* Former
Rumbek North County
Rumbek North County is an administrative area (county) located in Lakes State, South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Afri ...
:
** Aloor; headquarters: Maper
** Malueth; headquarters: Meen
* Former
Wulu County
Wulu County is an administrative area (county) located in Lakes State, South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It i ...
:
** Bhargel; headquarters: Bhargel
** Wulu; headquarters: Wulu
The counties are further sub-divided into payams, and the payams are then further sub-divided into bomas.
Towns and cities
The capital of the state is
Rumbek
Rumbek ( ar, رمبك) is the capital of Lakes State, central South Sudan, and the former capital of the country.
Location
Rumbek is approximately by road northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. Its coordinates are a ...
. Rumbek, with an estimated population of 32,083 in 2011,
is located 303 kilometers ''(188 miles)'' from Juba via air.
References
{{States of South Sudan (2015–2020)
Bahr el Ghazal
States of South Sudan