Rumbek is the capital of Lakes State, central South Sudan, and the former capital of the country.LocationRumbek is approximately 377km by road northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. Its coordinates are and its elevation is 420m above sea level.OverviewRumbek 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.PopulationIn 2004, the United Nations 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.