Tonj State

Tonj State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020.[4] It was located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it bordered Wau to the west, Gbudwe to the southwest, Gogrial to the northwest, Northern Liech to the northeast, Gok and Southern Liech to the east, and Western Lakes to the south and east.[5]

Tonj State
State
Location of Tonj State within South Sudan
CountrySouth Sudan
CapitalTonj[1]
Number of Counties22[2]
Number of municipalities1[3]
Population
 (2014 Estimate)
 • Total448,950

History

On 2 October 2015, President Salva Kiir issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 constitutionally established states.[6] 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.[7] In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.[8]

Tonj State comprises what was formerly Tonj North, Tonj East and Tonj South Counties.[9] The area is so large that at one time the South Sudan government considered dividing it up into two states instead of having one Tonj State.[10] Previously, the areas comprising Tonj State had been part of Warrap State from 2011 to 2015.[11] The city of Tonj serves the State Capital.[9] Mathiang Magoordit is its current governor, Tonj was one of Western Bahr Al Ghazaal districts during 1944.[12] The state cabinet, consisting of seven ministers and three advisors, was approved by the state's members of parliament in March 2016.[13]

Resources

Tonj State has two major rivers: the Jur River in the northern part of the state and the Tonj River in the southern and eastern parts of the state.[5] Much of the land is considered suitable for agrarian activities.[5][14]

Administrative divisions

After the split up, Tonj State broke down even further for a total of 19 counties.[15] Three new additional counties were created later on to bring the total of 22. The 22 counties are part of the 180 counties in South Sudan. Tonj State also contains the municipality of Tonj Town. The 22 counties are consisted of the following:

  • Former Tonj North County:
    • Akop
    • Alabek
    • Awul
    • Kirik
    • Konggor
    • Manloor
    • Marial Lou
    • Pagol
    • Rualbet
    • Warrap
  • Former Tonj East County:
    • Luanyjang Centre
    • Luanyjang East
    • Luanyjang North
    • Luanyjang South
    • Ngapagok
    • Palal
    • Wunlit
  • Former Tonj South County:
    • Jak
    • Manyang-Ngok
    • Thiet
    • Tonj
    • Wanhalel

References
  1. "Tonj State Capital Attacked By Pastoralists". Gurtong. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  2. Atekdit, Ariik (15 May 2016). "Tonj Governor Announces Formation Of 18 Counties". Gurtong. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  3. Atekdit, Ariik (17 June 2016). "Tonj Municipality Names Main Roundabout After William Deng Nhial". Gurtong. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  4. Mutambo, Aggrey. "S. Sudan govt agrees to reduce states to 10 to maintain peace". The East African. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  5. "The Tonj area of the ECS Diocese of Wau: Water Project". www.tonj.wau.anglican.org. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  6. "Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08.
  7. "Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  8. "South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors of 28 new states". Sudan Tribune.
  9. Mayom, Jok P (5 October 2015). "28 States In South Sudan". www.gurtong.net. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  10. "Akop community in Tonj State petitions for more counties | Radio Tamazuj". Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  11. Johnson, Douglas H. "Brief Analysis of the Boundaries of the 28 States" (PDF).
  12. "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.
  13. "Tonj Assembly approves appointment of cabinet ministers | Radio Tamazuj". 6 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  14. Desk, News. "Tonj State governor to tackle food insecurity". The Nation Mirror: South Sudan First Authoratative Daily. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  15. "Tonj State Governor Appoints Commissioners For 19 Counties". Gurtong. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2020.

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