Gbudwe State

Before the creation of the state, Gbudwe State was part of Western Equatoria. 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]

Patrick Raphael was appointed Governor on 24 December 2015.^[9]

On 22 February 2020, a peace deal ending the South Sudanese Civil War reverted the 28 states back into the original 10 states. Gbudwe State has since been reincorporated into Western Equatoria.

Gbudwe State is located in the Equatoria region and the state bordered the states of Wau State to the north, Lol State to the northwest, Tonj State to the northeast, as well as the Congolese province of Haut-Uélé to the south, Maridi State to the east, the Central African region of Haut-Mbomou to the west, and Western Lakes State to the northeast.^[5]

After the original states split up, Gbudwe State broke down even further for a total of 13 counties in the state. The 13 counties are part of the 180 counties in South Sudan. Also, each county receives a county commissioner. The 13 counties are consisted of the following:^[2]

• Former Nzara County:
  • Basukangbi
  • Nzara
  • Sakure
• Former Ezo County:
  • Ezo
  • Naandi
• Former Nagero County:
  • Nagero
• Former Tombura County:
  • Mopoi
  • Ri-Yubu
  • Tombura
• Former Yambio County:
  • Bangazagino
  • Bangasu
  • Yambio

The capital of Gbudwe State was Yambio, located in Yambio County. The city had an estimated population of around 31,700 in 2011.^[10] Other towns and villages in the state include Ezo, Nzara, and Tombura.^[3]