| States of South Sudan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Category | Federated state |
| Location | South Sudan |
| Number | 10 states 2 administrative areas 1 area with special administrative status |
| Government | |
| Subdivisions | |
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|---|
| Constitution |
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.[1] The decree established the new states largely along ethnic lines.[citation needed] A number[who?] of opposition parties challenged the constitutionality of this decree and the decree was referred to parliament for approval as a constitutional amendment.[2] In November, the South Sudanese parliament approved the creation of the new states.[3] In January 2017, President Salva Kiir stated a decreed of further subdivision of the country from 28 into 32 states.[4]
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.[5][6][7]
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.
- ^ "Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
- ^ "Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ^ "South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors of 28 new states". Sudan Tribune.
- ^ "South Sudanese President creates four more states – Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". www.sudantribune.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ^ "South Sudan Kiir agrees to re-establish the 10 states - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". www.sudantribune.com. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ "Kiir agrees to relinquish controversial 32 states". Radio Tamazuj. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ @dekuekd (15 February 2020). "So it has been decided that..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.