[3] It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Ruweng to the northwest, Western Nile to the northeast, Eastern Nile to the east, Eastern Bieh to the southeast, Jonglei to the south, Southern Liech to the southwest, and Northern Liech to the west.

[4] 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.

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

[2] The state consisted of three counties: Fangak, Canal and Ayod.