Imatong State

Imatong State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020.[3] It was located in the Equatoria region and it bordered Yei River to the southwest, Jubek to the west, Terekeka and Jonglei to the northwest, Boma to the northeast, Namorunyang to the east, and Uganda to the south.

Imatong State
State
Location of Imatong State in South Sudan
Country	South Sudan
Capital	Torit[1]
Number of Counties	12[2]
Population  (2014 Estimate)
• Total	598,190

History

On 2 October 2015, President Salva Kiir issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 constitutionally established states.[4] 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.[5] In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.[6]

Natisio Loluke was appointed Governor on 24 December.[7]

Geography

Administrative divisions

After the split up, Imatong State broke down even further for a total of 12 counties in the state (created in April 2016). The 12 counties are part of the 180 counties in South Sudan. The 12 counties are consisted of the following:[2]

• Former Ikotos County:
  • Geria; headquarters: Locomo
  • Ikwoto; headquarters: Ikwoto
  • Kidepo Valley; headquarters: Chahari
• Former Lafon/Lopa County:
  • Imehejek; headquarters: Imehejek
  • Lafon; headquarters: Lafon
  • Lopit West; headquarters: Longiro
• Former Magwi County
  • Ayaci; headquarters: Ayaci
  • Magwi; headquarters: Magwi
  • Pageri; headquarters: Pageri
• Former Torit County:
  • Torit; headquarters: Torit
  • Torit East; headquarters: Hiyala
  • Torit West; headquarters: Kudo

The counties are further sub-divided into payams, and the payams are then further sub-divided into bomas.

References

1. "Imatong: Speaker And Deputy Elected, Commissioners, Administrators Sworn In". Gurtong. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
2. Nakimangole, Peter Lokale (22 April 2016). "Additional Counties In Imatong And Namorunyang States Established". Gurtong. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
3. Mutambo, Aggrey. "S. Sudan govt agrees to reduce states to 10 to maintain peace". The East African. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
4. "Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08.
5. "Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
6. "South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors of 28 new states". Sudan Tribune.
7. "South Sudan's President appoints 28 Governors, defies peace agreement". South Sudan News Agency. 24 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016.