Lado Enclave
Encyclopedia
The Lado Enclave was an exclave of the Congo Free State
that existed from 1894 until 1910, situated on the west bank of the Upper Nile
in what is now South Sudan
and northwest Uganda
.
ian province of Equatoria
, Lado came under the control of the British, who, under the stipulations of the 1894 British-Congolese Treaty, leased the area to King Leopold II of Belgium
for the period of his lifetime. In exchange, Léopold agreed to cede a strip of land in eastern Congo when construction of the Cape to Cairo railway was to begin.
The enclave had an area of about 15000 square miles (38,849.8 km²), a population of about 250,000 and had its capital at the town of Lado
.
The northernmost post was Kiro
, on the west bank of the Nile a short distance above the British post at Mongalla
. Edward Fothergill visited the Sudan around 1901, basing himself at Mongalla between Lado
to the south and Kiro
to the north, but on the east shore of the river. By his account "Kiro, the most northern station of the Congo on the Nile, is very pretty and clean. Lado, the second station, is prettier still". However, he said that although the buildings were well made, they were too closely crowded together.
The Lado Enclave was important to the Congo Free State as it included Rejaf
, which was the terminus for boats on the Nile
. Rejaf was the seat of the Commander, the only European colonial official within the enclave, who were in place from 1897 to June 1910.
On 10 June 1910, following Léopold’s death, the district became a province of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
and in 1912 the southern half was ceded to Uganda
, then a British colony.
Congo Free State
The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa which was privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Its origins lay in Leopold's attracting scientific, and humanitarian backing for a non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine...
that existed from 1894 until 1910, situated on the west bank of the Upper Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
in what is now South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
and northwest Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
History
Previously a part of the Ottoman-EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian province of Equatoria
Equatoria
Equatoria is a region in the south of present-day South Sudan along the upper reaches of the White Nile. Originally a province of Egypt, it also contained most of Northern part of present day Uganda including Albert Lake...
, Lado came under the control of the British, who, under the stipulations of the 1894 British-Congolese Treaty, leased the area to King Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II of Belgium
Leopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
for the period of his lifetime. In exchange, Léopold agreed to cede a strip of land in eastern Congo when construction of the Cape to Cairo railway was to begin.
The enclave had an area of about 15000 square miles (38,849.8 km²), a population of about 250,000 and had its capital at the town of Lado
Lado, South Sudan
Lado is a settlement in Central Equatoria State in South Sudan, on the west bank of the White Nile.When General Gordon was appointed governor of the Egyptian territory of Equatoria in 1874, he moved his capital from Gondokoro to Lado, which had a healthier climate.In 1878 Emin Pasha was appointed...
.
The northernmost post was Kiro
Kiro
Kiro was a colonial post in what is now the Central Equatoria province of South Sudan on the west side of the Bahr al Jebel or White Nile river...
, on the west bank of the Nile a short distance above the British post at Mongalla
Mongalla, South Sudan
Mongalla or Mangalla is a community in Central Equatoria state in South Sudan, on the east side of the Bahr al Jebel or White Nile river. It lies about by road northeast of Juba. The towns of Terekeka and Bor lie downstream, north of Mongalla....
. Edward Fothergill visited the Sudan around 1901, basing himself at Mongalla between Lado
Lado, South Sudan
Lado is a settlement in Central Equatoria State in South Sudan, on the west bank of the White Nile.When General Gordon was appointed governor of the Egyptian territory of Equatoria in 1874, he moved his capital from Gondokoro to Lado, which had a healthier climate.In 1878 Emin Pasha was appointed...
to the south and Kiro
Kiro
Kiro was a colonial post in what is now the Central Equatoria province of South Sudan on the west side of the Bahr al Jebel or White Nile river...
to the north, but on the east shore of the river. By his account "Kiro, the most northern station of the Congo on the Nile, is very pretty and clean. Lado, the second station, is prettier still". However, he said that although the buildings were well made, they were too closely crowded together.
The Lado Enclave was important to the Congo Free State as it included Rejaf
Rejaf
Rejaf, also Rajjāf or Rageef, is a community in Central Equatoria State in South Sudan, on the west bank of the White Nile.The Lado Enclave was an exclave of the Congo Free State that existed from 1894 until 1910, leased by the British to King Leopold II of Belgium for the period of his lifetime...
, which was the terminus for boats on the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
. Rejaf was the seat of the Commander, the only European colonial official within the enclave, who were in place from 1897 to June 1910.
On 10 June 1910, following Léopold’s death, the district became a province of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan referred to the manner by which Sudan was administered between 1899 and 1956, when it was a condominium of Egypt and the United Kingdom.-Union with Egypt:...
and in 1912 the southern half was ceded to Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, then a British colony.
Sources and references
- Hochschild, A. King Leopold's Ghost, Mariner Books, 1999. ISBN 0-618-00190-5
- Pakenham, T. Scramble For Africa, Harper Perennial, 1991. ISBN 0-380-71999-1
- WorldStatesmen: The Sudan