Unity (state)

Unity State
Western Upper Nile
Flag of Unity State
Official seal of Unity State
Location in South Sudan (2011-2015 boundaries)
Location in South Sudan (2011-2015 boundaries)
Coordinates: 09°00′N 29°42′E / 9.000°N 29.700°E / 9.000; 29.700
Country South Sudan
RegionGreater Upper Nile
No. of counties:9
CapitalBentiu
Government
 • TypeState
 • GovernorRiek Tap Long[1]
Area
 • Total
37,836.39 km2 (14,608.71 sq mi)
Population
 (2014 estimate)
 • Total
824,700
 • Density22/km2 (56/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)
HDI (2021)0.344[2]
low · 7th of 10

Unity State, also known as Western Upper Nile,[3] is a state in South Sudan. Unity State is in the Greater Upper Nile region. Unity is inhabited predominantly by two ethnic groups: the Nuer majority, and the Dinka minority.

In 2015, a presidential decree established a new system of 28 states, replacing the previously established 10. Unity State was replaced by the states of Ruweng, Northern Liech and Southern Liech.[4] Unity State was re-established by a peace agreement signed on 22 February 2020 with smaller boundaries as the northern part of the former state became the Ruweng Administrative Area.[5]

  1. ^ "Kiir sacks Unity State governor over human rights violations". Sudan Tribune. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  3. ^ Rone, Jemera; (Organization), Human Rights Watch (2003). Sudan, Oil, and Human Rights. p. 102. ISBN 9781564322913.
  4. ^ "New decree creates ethnic enclaves for Nuer". Radio Tamazuj. 2 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  5. ^ Vhumbunu, Clayton Hazvinei. "The Formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan". ACCORD. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.