Aweil East also known as Abiem, was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020.^[1] It had an estimated population of 571,728 people and an area of 6,172.23 KM square. It was located in northern-western South Sudan. Its capital and largest city was Wanyjok. The state is located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it bordered Twic State and Gogrial State to the east, Aweil State to the south, Lol State to the west, the disputed Abyei State region to the northeast, and Sudan to the north.^[2]

The state initially existed as Aweil East County when Aweil gained state-establishment from Wau, South Sudan in 1994 according to Sudan. On 2 October 2015, President Salva Kiir officially declared and issued a decree establishing 28 states in place of the 10 constitutionally established states.^[3] 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.^[4] In November the South Sudanese parliament empowered President Kiir to create new states.^[5]

Deng Deng Akuei was appointed Governor on 24 December.^[6]

The state was located in the Bahr el Ghazal region with an estimated population of 571,728 and it bordered Twic State and Gogrial State to the east, Aweil State to the south, Lol State to the west, the disputed Abyei State region to the northeast, and Sudan to the north.^[2]