Category Federated state Government State government | Number 28 States Subdivisions County | |
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Location Republic of South Sudan | ||
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 28 states are further divided into 180 counties.
Contents
In October 2015, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 previously established states. 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 decreed a further subdivision of the country from 28 into 32 states.
States 2015–present
- - containing the national capital city of Juba
- - earlier called Eastern Bieh
- - earlier called Western Bieh
- - earlier called Western Nile
Rebel declaration
On 22 December 2014, rebel leader 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.