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 th ...

that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and was part of the former state of

Lakes State 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 st ...

. 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, Gok, Maridi State, Southern Liech State, 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 ...

History

Before Western Lakes State was formed, it was part of

. 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 since 24 December 2015. He is the first governor of the state, which was created by President Salva Kiir Salva (Latin for "Save") may refer to: People * Francisco Salva C ...

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 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 o ...

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. In August 2016, the former larger Wulu County had split to create a newer smaller Wulu County and Barghel County. References Counties of South Sudan ...

: ** 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 an ...

. 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