Aweil East State

Aweil East also known as Abiem, was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020.[1]It had an estimated population of 571,728 people and an area of 6,172.23 KM square. It was located in northern-western South Sudan. Its capital and largest city was Malualkon. The state is located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it bordered Twic State and Gogrial State to the east, Aweil State to the south, Lol State to the west, the disputed Abyei State region to the northeast, and Sudan to the north.[2]

Aweil East Peaceland
State
Nickname(s):  Home Of Peace
Motto(s):  Unity, Peace and Justice
Location of Aweil East State in South Sudan
Country	South Sudan
Capital	Malualkon
Number of Counties	14
Number of Municipalities	2
Population  (2018 Estimate)
• Total	571,728
Demonym(s)	Malualkonese Abiemese

History

The state initially existed as Aweil East County when Aweil gained state-establishment from Wau, South Sudan in 1994 according to Sudan. On 2 October 2015, President Salva Kiir officially declared and issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 constitutionally established states.[3] 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.[4] In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.[5]

Deng Deng Akuei was appointed Governor on 24 December.[6]

Nicknames

The state is nicknamed as The Home of Peace, because communities in Abiem and neighbouring Sudan make peace by themselves.

Geography

The state was located in the Bahr el Ghazal region with an estimated population of 571,728 and it bordered Twic State and Gogrial State to the east, Aweil State to the south, Lol State to the west, the disputed Abyei State region to the northeast, and Sudan to the north.[2]

Administrative divisions

After Aweil East formed, the state split up even further into eight separate counties. These eight counties are Wunlang County, Malualbaai County, Warguet County, Yargot County, Madhol County, Mangok County, Baac County, Mangar-Tong County, Rialdit County, Manyiel County, Riang-Maal County, Mangok-Lou County and Warlang County.[7] In addition to the 5 counties, it also consists of municipality of Malualkon and Majok Yinh Thiou.[8]

Malualkon

Malualkon was the capital city of Aweil East. It comprised Wanyjok, Machar Mou, Mabil, Pan Apuoth, Kanajak, Paroot, Majak Ajuong, Majak Akoon, Riang Tab, and Malualkon. The Wer Bei Radio which broadcasts the word of God is found to north-east of the city and Nhomlau FM radio stationed in Malualkon to the east. Because of its proximity to South and West Kordofan, commercial goods from Sudan come through Abyei (Akong border location) and Majokyinthiou via Merem locality and later supply the markets in the other sisterly states of Lol and Aweil states.

References

1. Mutambo, Aggrey. "S. Sudan govt agrees to reduce states to 10 to maintain peace". The East African. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
2. "Aweil East State". south-sudan.biz. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
3. "Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08.
4. "Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
5. "South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors of 28 new states". Sudan Tribune.
6. "South Sudan's President appoints 28 Governors, defies peace agreement". South Sudan News Agency. 24 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-02-02.
7. "Aweil East governor appoints county commissioners". Radio Tamazuj. 21 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
8. "Aweil East governor appoints Wanyjok town mayor and deputy". Radio Tamazuj. 27 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 12 August 2016.