Rumbek

Rumbek
A cattle camp in Rumbek
Rumbek Location in South Sudan
Coordinates: 6°48′21″N 29°40′34″E / 6.805762°N 29.676132°E / 6.805762; 29.676132Coordinates: 6°48′21″N 29°40′34″E / 6.805762°N 29.676132°E / 6.805762; 29.676132
Country	South Sudan
State	Western Lakes State
County	Rumbek Central County
Elevation	406 m (1,332 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	32,100 Estimate
Climate	Aw

Rumbek (Arabic: رمبك‎‎) is the capital of Lakes State, central South Sudan, and the former capital of the country.

Rumbek is approximately 377 kilometres (234 mi) by road northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. Its coordinates are 6°49′N 29°41′E / 6.81°N 29.68°E / 6.81; 29.68 and its elevation is 420 metres (1,380 ft) above sea level.

Rumbek is the headquarters of Rumbek Central County and is the capital of Western Lakes State, one of the twenty eight (28) states of South Sudan. Following the peace agreement ending the Second Sudanese Civil War, the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement chose Rumbek to serve as the temporary administrative center of the Government of Southern Sudan. Later, Juba was selected to become the permanent capital. Like most South Sudanese towns, Rumbek suffered significant infrastructural damage during the civil war, in which an estimated 2 million people perished.

In 2004, the United Nations (OCHA) estimated the population of "Rumbek County" at about 82,500. At that time, the Dinka Agar constituted about 60% of the population, 30% were Dinka Gok, 6% were Bongo and 4% were Jur-Bel. In 2011, the population of the town of Rumbek is estimated at about 32,100.