Southern Liech

Southern Liech
State
Location of Southern Liech in South Sudan
Country	South Sudan
Capital	Leer[1]
Number of Counties	3[1]
Government
• Governor	Teker Riek Dong
Population (2014 Estimate)
• Total	267,460

Southern Liech State is one of the 28 states of South Sudan. It is located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it borders Northern Liech to the north, Western Bieh to the east, Jonglei to the southeast, Eastern Lakes to the south, Western Lakes to the southwest, and Tonj to the west.

History

On 2 October 2015, President Salva Kiir issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 constitutionally established states.^[2] 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.^[3] In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.^[4]

Teker Riek Dong was appointed Governor on 24 December.^[5]

Administrative divisions

The state consists of 3 counties:^[1]

• Mayendit
• Panyijar
• Leer

References

1. Atekdit, Ariik (15 February 2016). "Southern Liech Governor Arrives State Headquarters". Gurtong. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
2. "Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan". Radio Tamazuj.
3. "Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval". Radio Tamazuj.
4. "South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors of 28 new states". Sudan Tribune.
5. "South Sudan's President appoints 28 Governors, defies peace agreement". South Sudan News Agency. 24 December 2015.