Malakal
Encyclopedia
Malakal is a city in South Sudan
.
, close to the International borders with the Republic of Sudan and with Ethiopia
. The town is located on the banks of the White Nile
, just north of its confluence with the Sobat River
.
This location lies approximately 650 kilometres (403.9 mi), by road, directly north of Juba, the capital of South Sudan
and the largest city in that country.
ese state of Upper Nile. It also serves as the headquarters of Malakal County, in which it is located.
During the Second Sudanese Civil War
, the town was a garrison town
of the Khartoum-based
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Following South Sudan's independence
on 9 July 2011, the troops from the Republic of Sudan have retreated from Malakal. MalakaI was the site of the November 2006 Battle of Malakal
.
The majority of residents in the town belong tto the Dinka Ngok
, Nuer, and Shilluk ethnic groups. However, there are also significant numbers of other ethnic groups who reside there. The majority of current South Sudanese soldiers in the town come from Bahr el Ghazal
, and not from the immediate locality. Popular local foods include wal wal, a boiled flour dumpling, and foull, a seasoned ground nut dish.
at the border with Ethiopia
is under repairs and renorvations to asphalt
surface. The road is expected to be ready for commissioning by May 2013.
The city of Malakal is also served by Malakal International Airport
, one of the two International airports in South Sudan
, the other being Juba International Airport
.
Water traffic on the White Nile River
can travel as far north as Khartoum
in the Republic of Sudan, and as far south as Adok
in Lakes State
.
ese census, which was bycotted by the South Sudan
ese government, recorded a population of about 126,500. However, those results are disputed by the authorities in Juba. In 2010, it was estimated that the population of Malakal had grown to about 139,450. Below is a table depicting the estimated population of the city from 1983 until 2010 from all sources:
Wau City Population Trends>
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...
.
Location
The city of Malakal is located in Malakal County, Upper Nile State, in the northeast of South SudanSouth 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...
, close to the International borders with the Republic of Sudan and with Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. The town is located on the banks of the White Nile
White Nile
The White Nile is a river of Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile from Egypt, the other being the Blue Nile. In the strict meaning, "White Nile" refers to the river formed at Lake No at the confluence of the Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal rivers...
, just north of its confluence with the Sobat River
Sobat River
The Sobat River is a river in South Sudan, Africa. The most southerly of the great eastern tributaries of the Nile, the Sobat enters the White Nile at Doleib Hill, near the city of Malakal in the Upper Nile state of South Sudan...
.
This location lies approximately 650 kilometres (403.9 mi), by road, directly north of Juba, the capital of 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 the largest city in that country.
Overview
Malakal is the capital of the South SudanSouth 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...
ese state of Upper Nile. It also serves as the headquarters of Malakal County, in which it is located.
During the Second Sudanese Civil War
Second Sudanese Civil War
The Second Sudanese Civil War started in 1983, although it was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originated in southern Sudan, the civil war spread to the Nuba mountains and Blue Nile by the end of the 1980s....
, the town was a garrison town
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
of the Khartoum-based
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Following South Sudan's independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
on 9 July 2011, the troops from the Republic of Sudan have retreated from Malakal. MalakaI was the site of the November 2006 Battle of Malakal
Battle of Malakal
The Battle of Malakal occurred at the end of November 2006 in the southern Sudanese town of Malakal. The clashes between Sudanese government forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army were the most serious breach of a 2005 deal to end the Second Sudanese Civil War.- External links :*...
.
The majority of residents in the town belong tto the Dinka Ngok
Dinka
The Dinka is an ethnic group inhabiting the Bahr el Ghazal region of the Nile basin, Jonglei and parts of southern Kordufan and Upper Nile regions. They are mainly agro-pastoral people, relying on cattle herding at riverside camps in the dry season and growing millet and other varieties of grains ...
, Nuer, and Shilluk ethnic groups. However, there are also significant numbers of other ethnic groups who reside there. The majority of current South Sudanese soldiers in the town come from Bahr el Ghazal
Bahr el Ghazal
The Bahr el Ghazal is a region of western South Sudan. Its name comes from the river Bahr el Ghazal.- Geography :The region consists of the states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap. It borders Central African Republic to the west...
, and not from the immediate locality. Popular local foods include wal wal, a boiled flour dumpling, and foull, a seasoned ground nut dish.
Transportation
A major road linking Malakal with the town of KurmukKurmuk
Kurmuk 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....
at the border with Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
is under repairs and renorvations to asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
surface. The road is expected to be ready for commissioning by May 2013.
The city of Malakal is also served by Malakal International Airport
Malakal Airport
-Location:Malakal Airport, , is located in Malakal County in Upper Nile State, in the city of Malakal, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan and the border with Ethiopia...
, one of the two International airports in 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...
, the other being Juba International Airport
Juba Airport
Juba Airport is the main airport in Juba, South Sudan.-Location:The airport is located in the capital city of Juba, South Sudan. The airport lies to the northeast of the Central business district of the city, on the western banks of the White Nile....
.
Water traffic on the White Nile River
White Nile
The White Nile is a river of Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile from Egypt, the other being the Blue Nile. In the strict meaning, "White Nile" refers to the river formed at Lake No at the confluence of the Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal rivers...
can travel as far north as Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
in the Republic of Sudan, and as far south as Adok
Adok
Adok is a port on the White Nile in Jonglei State, South Sudan.In the early 1980's Chevron Corporation found oil in Adok.Adok had strategic value during the Second Sudanese Civil War ....
in Lakes State
Lakes (state)
Lakes is one of the 10 states of South Sudan. It has an area of 40,235 km². Rumbek is the capital of the state. Lakes is in the Bahr el Ghazal region of South Sudan, in addition to Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Warrap states. Bahr el Ghazal itself was a former province...
.
Newspapers
Malakal has very limited newspapers circulated in hardcopy form. However, the Juba based 'Citizen' is widely read around the town. In the eve of Independence day on July 9, 2011, The Upper Nile Times online newspaper was launched. This online digital newspaper is widely read around the town of Malakal and its surroundings. The newspaper also is one of the most rated in Upper Nile State, Southern Sudan and around the world.Population
the population of Malakal was estimated at about 129,620. The 2008 SudanSudan
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...
ese census, which was bycotted by the 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...
ese government, recorded a population of about 126,500. However, those results are disputed by the authorities in Juba. In 2010, it was estimated that the population of Malakal had grown to about 139,450. Below is a table depicting the estimated population of the city from 1983 until 2010 from all sources:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 33,750 |
| 1993 | 72,000 |
| 2005 | 129,620 |
| 2008 | 126,500 |
| 2010 | 139,450 |
Points of interest
The following points of interest are found in or near the town of Malkal:- The offices of Malakal City Council
- The headquarters of Malakal County Administration
- The headquarters of Upper Nile State Government
- Malakal International AirportMalakal Airport-Location:Malakal Airport, , is located in Malakal County in Upper Nile State, in the city of Malakal, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan and the border with Ethiopia...
- A civilian and military airport - The White Nile RiverWhite NileThe White Nile is a river of Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile from Egypt, the other being the Blue Nile. In the strict meaning, "White Nile" refers to the river formed at Lake No at the confluence of the Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal rivers...
- Malakal lies on the eastern bank and the town of Kwogo lies on the western bank, across from Malakal - Malakal Stadium - A public outdoor sports complex
- Upper Nile UniversityUpper Nile University-Location:The university's main campus is located in the town of Malakal, Upper Nile State on the banks of the White Nile River. This location lies approximately , by road, north of Juba, the capital and largest city in that country...
- A public university, founded in 2007 - Malakal Port - Located on the White NileWhite NileThe White Nile is a river of Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile from Egypt, the other being the Blue Nile. In the strict meaning, "White Nile" refers to the river formed at Lake No at the confluence of the Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal rivers...
- Upper Nile Primary School
- A branch of Nile Commercial BankNile Commercial BankNile Commercial Bank ' is a commercial bank in South Sudan. It is one of the commercial banks licensed to operate in South Sudan, by the Bank of South Sudan, the national banking regulator.-Overview:...
- A branch of Ivory BankIvory BankIvory Bank is a commercial bank in South Sudan. It is one of the commercial banks licensed to operate in South Sudan, by the Bank of South Sudan, the national banking regulator.-Overview:...
- A branch of Equity Bank (South Sudan)Equity Bank (South Sudan)-Overview:The bank provides banking services to individuals and to small and medium business enterprises. It is one of the commercial banks licenced to operate in the country by the Bank of South Sudan, the national banking regulator.-Equity Bank Group:...
- Malakal Vocational Training Center - A vocational school
External links
- Location of Malkal At Google Maps
- Malakal Vocational Training Centre.
- The Gateway to the Shilluk People of Malakal.
See also
- Malakal AirportMalakal Airport-Location:Malakal Airport, , is located in Malakal County in Upper Nile State, in the city of Malakal, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan and the border with Ethiopia...
- Upper Nile (state)
- Greater Upper NileGreater Upper NileThe Greater Upper Nile is a region of northeastern South Sudan. It is named for the White Nile, a tributary of the Nile River in North and East Africa.- Geography :The region consists of the states of Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile...
- List of cities in South Sudan