The area was originally part of the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

A number of opposition parties and civil society groups challenged the constitutionality of the decree.

[3] In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.

[5] On 22 February 2020, a compromise led President Salva Kiir to revert the map of South Sudan to its original ten states.

[6] After the split up, Aweil State broke down even further for a total of 8 counties, which were created in April 2016.