Blue Nile (state)
Encyclopedia
Blue Nile called Central ( ) from 1991 until 1994, is one of the 15 states
of Sudan
. It was established by Presidential Decree Nº3 in 1992 and is named after the Blue Nile River. It has an area of 45,844 km² and an estimated population of 1,193,293 . The Central Bureau of Statistics quoted the population at 832,112 in the 2006 Census. Ad-Damazin
is the capital of the state. Blue Nile State is home to the Roseires Dam
, the main source of hydroelectric power in Sudan until the completion of the Merowe Dam
in 2010.
The region is host to around forty different ethnic groups. Its economic activity is based upon agriculture and livestock and increasing mineral exploitation.
In 2011, residents of Blue Nile were scheduled to hold ill-defined "popular consultations" to determine the constitutional future of the state, per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
. Instead a dispute over the rightful government of the state, and the determination of Omar al-Bashir
to eradicate the Sudan People's Liberation Movement
has led to a renewed insurgency, a refugee crisis. It appears that the consultations have been postponed indefinitely.
States of Sudan
Below is a list of the 15 states of Sudan, organized by their original provinces during the period of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Arabic language versions are, as appropriate, in parentheses. States that were not provinces before 1994 are marked with . Transliterations from Arabic to English may vary;...
of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. It was established by Presidential Decree Nº3 in 1992 and is named after the Blue Nile River. It has an area of 45,844 km² and an estimated population of 1,193,293 . The Central Bureau of Statistics quoted the population at 832,112 in the 2006 Census. Ad-Damazin
Ad-Damazin
Ad Damazin is the capital of Blue Nile State in Sudan. It is the location of the Roseires Dam and power generation plant.Ad Damazin is served by a terminal station of a branch line of the national railway network. However, the train service to Ad Damazin has been discontinued many years ago....
is the capital of the state. Blue Nile State is home to the Roseires Dam
Roseires Dam
The Roseires Dam is a dam on the Blue Nile at Ad Damazin, just upstream of the town of Er Roseires, in Sudan. It consists of a concrete buttress dam 1 km wide with a maximum height of 68m, and an earth dam on either side. The earth dam on the eastern bank is 4 km long, and that on the...
, the main source of hydroelectric power in Sudan until the completion of the Merowe Dam
Merowe Dam
The Merowe Dam, also known as Merowe High Dam, Merowe Multi-Purpose Hydro Project or Hamdab Dam, is a large dam near Merowe Town in northern Sudan, about north of the capital Khartoum. Its dimensions make it the largest contemporary hydropower project in Africa...
in 2010.
The region is host to around forty different ethnic groups. Its economic activity is based upon agriculture and livestock and increasing mineral exploitation.
In 2011, residents of Blue Nile were scheduled to hold ill-defined "popular consultations" to determine the constitutional future of the state, per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
Comprehensive Peace Agreement
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement , also known as the Naivasha Agreement, was a set of agreements culminating in January 2005 that were signed between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the Government of Sudan...
. Instead a dispute over the rightful government of the state, and the determination of Omar al-Bashir
Omar al-Bashir
Lieutenant General Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir is the current President of Sudan and the head of the National Congress Party. He came to power in 1989 when he, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, led a group of officers in a bloodless military coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister...
to eradicate the Sudan People's Liberation Movement
Sudan People's Liberation Movement (northern sector)
Sudan People's Liberation Movement , also known as SPLM-North, is a banned political party in the Republic of Sudan. It is currently actively primarily in the states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, where its armed branch, the Southern People's Liberation Army North is engaged in an active...
has led to a renewed insurgency, a refugee crisis. It appears that the consultations have been postponed indefinitely.
Administration
The State is sub-divided into six districts (with 2006 Census populations shown below):- Ad-DamazinAd-DamazinAd Damazin is the capital of Blue Nile State in Sudan. It is the location of the Roseires Dam and power generation plant.Ad Damazin is served by a terminal station of a branch line of the national railway network. However, the train service to Ad Damazin has been discontinued many years ago....
(212,712) - Al KormokKurmukKurmuk is a town in south-eastern Sudan near the border with Ethiopia.Kurmuk is inhabited by the Uduk and Berta peoples and is controlled by the SPLM....
(110,815) - Ar Roseires (215,857)
- Tadamon (77,668)
- BauBauIn Sumerian and Akkadian mythology Bau was a goddess, daughter of An and Ninurta's wife. She had seven daughters, including Hegir-Nuna ....
or Baw (127,251) - QeissanQeissanQaysān or Qeissan or Abdullah Qeissan or Abdullah is a town in Blue Nile State, south-eastern Sudan near the border with Ethiopia....
(87,809)