Lakes (state)


Lakes State is a state in South Sudan. It has an area of 40,235 km². Rumbek was the capital of the state. Lakes was 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 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.
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.

Administration

Like all states in South Sudan, Lakes was divided into counties; there were eight counties, each headed by a County Commissioner.
CountyArea Population
Census 2008		County
Commissioner
Cueibet4,823.5647,041Kongor Deng Kongor?
Rumbek North4,531.1343,410Stephen Mathiang Deng
Rumbek Central3,866.85153,550Abraham Meen Kuc
Wulu11,700.6040,550Stephen Thiang Mangar
Rumbek East3,588.10122,832David Marial Gumke
Yirol West5,024.84103,190Majak Ruei Angong
Yirol East5,400.9067,402Manyang Luk
Awerial4,659.1047,041Simon Aguto Kok

The counties are further divided into Payams, then Bomas.

Disestablishment and re-establishment

Lakes State was disestablished on 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. 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.

Conflict

Lakes state is where most cycle of revenge and cattle raiding remained since CPA was signed in 2005 between Republic of Sudan and the former rebel the SPLA/M. Manyang Mayom, the Human Right journalist kept Engle eye on Lakes state issues to oppress the state government who used oppressive law on it citizen. Mayom was viewed as an Icon for his stand to protect human Right in Lakes state and across South Sudan. Mayom won Human Right Watch Award in August 4, 2010.