Lakes State is a state in South Sudan. It has an area of 43,595.08 km2. Rumbek is the capital of the state. Lakes is in the Bahr el Ghazal region of South Sudan, in addition to Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Warrap states. Bahr el Ghazal itself was a former province which was split from the Anglo-Egyptian mudiriyat, or province of Equatoria in 1948. The eastern border was the White Nile with Jonglei State on the opposite bank. To the northeast lied the Unity State. Other borders included Warrap State towards the northwest, Western Equatoria to the south and west, and Central Equatoria to the south.
Lakes state
Jieng/Belle | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location in South Sudan. | |
| Coordinates: 06°46′N 28°53′E / 6.767°N 28.883°E | |
| Country |  South Sudan |
| Region | Bahr el Ghazal |
| State | Jul 9th 2011 |
| Capital | Rumbek |
| Government | |
| • Type | Revitalized Transitional government |
| • Lt. General | Rin Tueny Mabor |
| Area | |
• Total | 43,595.08 km2 (16,832.15 sq mi) |
| Population (2017 estimate[1]) | |
• Total | 1,053,177 |
| • Density | 24/km2 (63/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC 2 (CAT) |
| HDI (2019) | 0.348[2] low · 6th of 10 |
In July 2011, Ramciel in Lakes state was under consideration by the federal government as a site for a new national capital, which would replace Juba.[3]
Administration
editLike all states in South Sudan, Lakes was divided into counties; there were eight counties, each headed by a County Commissioner.
| County | Area (km2) | Population Census 2008 |
County Commissioner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awerial | 4,659.10 | 47,041 | Simon Jok (SPLM) |
| Cueibet | 4,823.56 | 47,041 | Akol Isaiah (SPLM-IO) |
| Rumbek North | 4,531.13 | 43,410 | Arop Kumbai |
| Rumbek Central | 3,866.85 | 153,550 | Dut Manaak (SSOA) |
| Wulu | 11,700.60 | 40,550 | Stephen Thiang Mangar |
| Rumbek East | 3,588.10 | 122,832 | Mangar Machuol Malok (SPLM) |
| Yirol West | 5,024.84 | 103,190 | Achieng Anhiem Bahon (SPlM-IO) |
| Yirol East | 5,588 | 67,402 | Manyang Luk(SPLM ) |
The counties are further divided into Payams, then Bomas.
Disestablishment and re-establishment
editLakes State was disestablished in October 2015 due to South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit issuing a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 previously established states.[4] As a result, the states of Eastern Lakes, Gok and Western Lakes were created. Lakes state was re-established by a peace agreement signed on 22 February 2020.[5]
Conflict
editCattle raids were persistent in the Lakes State, between the Republic of Sudan and the former rebel group SPLA/M, since the CPA was signed in 2005. Human rights journalist Manyang Mayom reported heavily on government oppression in the Lakes State; his work won him the Human Rights Watch Award on August 4, 2010. Mayom was expelled from the Warrap State in November 2021 for his work in that region with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).[6]
References
edit- ^ "South Sudan: States and counties". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ Christie, Sean (8 July 2011). "South Sudan brushes fear aside". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
- ^ "Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08.
- ^ "After 6 years of war, will peace finally come to South Sudan? | News | Al Jazeera".
- ^ "Warrap banishes local reporter working for UN radio". Eye Radio. 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2022-12-04.