Tonj State
{{Short description|State of South Sudan from 2015 to 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name =Tonj State
| native_name =
| other_name=
| nickname =
| motto =
| settlement_type = State
| image_map = 250px
| mapsize = 240px
| map_caption =Location of Tonj State within South Sudan
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = South Sudan
| subdivision_type1 = Capital
| subdivision_name1 = Tonj{{cite web|url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/18717/Tonj-State-Capital-Attacked-By-Pastoralists.aspx|title=Tonj State Capital Attacked By Pastoralists|publisher=Gurtong|date=29 May 2016|accessdate=14 August 2016}}
| subdivision_type2 = Number of Counties
| subdivision_type3 =Number of municipalities
| start_date =
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| population_as_of = 2014 Estimate
| population_total = 448950
| population_range =
| area_range =
| leader_party =
| leader_title = Governor
| leader_name =
}}
Tonj State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020.{{cite news |last1=Mutambo |first1=Aggrey |title=S. Sudan govt agrees to reduce states to 10 to maintain peace |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/South-Sudan-number-of-states/4552908-5456652-146yscpz/index.html |accessdate=February 15, 2020 |agency=The East African}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tonj.wau.anglican.org/index.php?PageID=waterproject|title=The Tonj area of the ECS Diocese of Wau: Water Project|website=www.tonj.wau.anglican.org|access-date=2016-10-30}}
History
On 2 October 2015, President Salva Kiir issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 constitutionally established states.{{cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/kiir-and-makuei-want-28-states-s-sudan|title=Kiir and Makuei want 28 states in South Sudan|publisher=Radio Tamazuj|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208183221/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/kiir-and-makuei-want-28-states-s-sudan|archivedate=2015-12-08}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/kiir-pressured-taking-decree-parliament-approval|title=Kiir pressured into taking decree to parliament for approval|publisher=Radio Tamazuj|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304224908/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/kiir-pressured-taking-decree-parliament-approval|archivedate=2016-03-04}} In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article57484|title=South Sudan's Kiir appoints governors of 28 new states|publisher=Sudan Tribune}}
Tonj State comprises what was formerly Tonj North, Tonj East and Tonj South Counties.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/17532/President-Kiir-Creates-28-States-In-South-Sudan.aspx|title=28 States In South Sudan|last=Mayom|first=Jok P|date=5 October 2015|website=www.gurtong.net|publisher=|access-date=2016-10-30}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/akop-community-tonj-state-petitions-more-counties|title=Akop community in Tonj State petitions for more counties {{!}} Radio Tamazuj|access-date=2016-10-30}} Previously, the areas comprising Tonj State had been part of Warrap State from 2011 to 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://paanluelwel2011.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/douglas-johnson-brief-analysis-of-the-boundaries-of-the-28-states-for-cpds-oct-2015.pdf|title=Brief Analysis of the Boundaries of the 28 States|last=Johnson|first=Douglas H.|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}} The city of Tonj serves the State Capital. Mathiang Magoordit is its current governor, Tonj was one of Western Bahr Al Ghazaal districts during 1944.{{cite news|date=24 December 2015|title=South Sudan's President appoints 28 Governors, defies peace agreement|publisher=South Sudan News Agency|url=http://www.southsudannewsagency.com/news/breaking-news/south-sudans-president-appoints-28-governors-defies-peace-agreement|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202025755/http://www.southsudannewsagency.com/news/breaking-news/south-sudans-president-appoints-28-governors-defies-peace-agreement|archivedate=2 February 2016}} The state cabinet, consisting of seven ministers and three advisors, was approved by the state's members of parliament in March 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/tonj-assembly-approves-appointment-cabinet-ministers|title=Tonj Assembly approves appointment of cabinet ministers {{!}} Radio Tamazuj|last=|first=|date=6 March 2016|work=|access-date=2016-10-30|via=}}
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. Much of the land is considered suitable for agrarian activities.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thenationmirror.com/news/south-sudan-news/1802-tonj-state-governor-to-tackle-food-insecurity|title=Tonj State governor to tackle food insecurity|author=News Desk|newspaper=The Nation Mirror: South Sudan First Authoratative Daily|access-date=2016-10-30}}
Administrative divisions
After the split up, Tonj State broke down even further for a total of 19 counties.{{cite news|url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/19550/Tonj-State-Governor-Appoints-Commissioners-For-19-Counties.aspx|title=Tonj State Governor Appoints Commissioners For 19 Counties|publisher=Gurtong|date=28 June 2016|accessdate=6 January 2020}} Five new additional counties were created later on to bring the total of 24. The 24 counties are part of the 182 counties in South Sudan. Tonj State also contains the municipality of Tonj Town. The 24 counties are consisted of the following:
- Former Tonj North County:
- Alabek
- Akop
- Awul
- Kirik
- Konggor
- Manloor
- Marial Lou
- Pagol
- Rualbet
- Warrap
- Former Tonj East County:
- Luanyjang Centre
- Luanyjang East
- Luanyjang North
- Luanyjang South
- Ngapagok
- Thiik
- Palal
- Wunlit
- Former Tonj South County:
- Jak
- Manyang-Ngok
- Thiet
- Tonj
- Wanhalel
- Mabior Yar
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{States of South Sudan (2015–2020)}}
{{coord missing|South Sudan}}