Melut
Encyclopedia
Melut is a community in the Upper Nile
state of South Sudan
, headquarters of Melut County
.
, just below the point where the Adar River
enters the Nile.
The region is one of wide, flat and low lying plains with black cotton soils, covered by Savannah grasslands and acacia trees.
The River Nile and its small seasonal tributaries are the main sources of drinking water, fishing grounds and water for cattle, particularly in the dry season.
The river Nile is also the main transportation route.
The largest communities in the county are Dinka, Shilluk, Burun, Fur
, Nubian and Nuer people. Most people relay on
agro-pastoralism for a living, and engage in small scale trading.
Melut gives its name to the Melut Basin
.
Chevron
discovered a major oil field in this basin in 1981.
In October 1996 the GPC consortium drilled and reopened Chevron's wells and built an all-weather road connecting the Adar oilfield
to Melut.
(1983-2005), but in 1988 shifted north to Khartoum
due to heavy fighting in the area. The college moved back in 2007.
The compound had been used and misused by the army during the war and required extensive rebuilding.
In November 2007 Medair moved its Primary Health Care Center at Melut into a new building. Until then the Center, the only source of health care in the town, had been operating out of tents.
(SPLA) component and the United Nations Mission in Sudan
(UNMIS) in Melut, killing a teenage girl and wounding others. SAF attributed this violation of the ceasefire to drunken soldiers. To avoid any risk of escalation, the SPLA did not respond.
Upper Nile
Upper Nile is one of the 10 states of South Sudan. The current governor of Upper Nile, and its first governor in the independence era of South Sudan, is Simon Kun Puoch. The White Nile flows through the state, giving it its name. The state also shares a similar name with the region of Greater Upper...
state 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...
, headquarters of Melut County
Melut County
Melut County is an administrative area in the Upper Nile state of South Sudan, with headquarters at Melut.-Location:Melut County is bordered by Manyo County across the Nile in the west, Maaban County in the east, Baliet County in the south and Renk County in the north, all in Upper Nile state.The...
.
Location
The town is on the east bank of the White NileWhite 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 below the point where the Adar River
Adar River
The Adar River , known to the Dinka as the Yal, is a tributary of the White Nile in the state of Upper Nile, South Sudan. It flows north west from the Machar Marshes and enters the White Nile just upstream of the town of Melut....
enters the Nile.
The region is one of wide, flat and low lying plains with black cotton soils, covered by Savannah grasslands and acacia trees.
The River Nile and its small seasonal tributaries are the main sources of drinking water, fishing grounds and water for cattle, particularly in the dry season.
The river Nile is also the main transportation route.
The largest communities in the county are Dinka, Shilluk, Burun, Fur
Fur people
The Fur are an ethnic group from western Sudan, principally inhabiting the region of Darfur where they are the largest tribe....
, Nubian and Nuer people. Most people relay on
agro-pastoralism for a living, and engage in small scale trading.
Melut gives its name to the Melut Basin
Melut Basin
The Melut Basin is a rift basin in South Sudan. It is situated in the states of Upper Nile and Jonglei, south of the capital Khartoum and east of the river Nile. The Basin contains several hydrocarbon accumulations, although oil exploration, as elsewhere in Sudan, has been hindered by conflict...
.
Chevron
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
discovered a major oil field in this basin in 1981.
In October 1996 the GPC consortium drilled and reopened Chevron's wells and built an all-weather road connecting the Adar oilfield
Adar oilfield
The Adar oilfield, also known as the Adar Yale, Adar Yeil or Adaril field, is an oilfield situated in the Melut Basin in South Sudan estimated to contain about of oil....
to Melut.
Facilities
Elim International Missions was running the Gideon Theological College at Melut before the start of the Second Sudanese Civil WarSecond 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....
(1983-2005), but in 1988 shifted north to 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"...
due to heavy fighting in the area. The college moved back in 2007.
The compound had been used and misused by the army during the war and required extensive rebuilding.
In November 2007 Medair moved its Primary Health Care Center at Melut into a new building. Until then the Center, the only source of health care in the town, had been operating out of tents.
Security
On 10 November 2010, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) component of the Joint Integrated Units opened fire on positions of the Sudan People's Liberation ArmySudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
(SPLA) component and the United Nations Mission in Sudan
United Nations Mission in Sudan
The United Nations Mission in the Sudan was established by the UN Security Council under Resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005, in response to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on January 9, 2005 in Nairobi,...
(UNMIS) in Melut, killing a teenage girl and wounding others. SAF attributed this violation of the ceasefire to drunken soldiers. To avoid any risk of escalation, the SPLA did not respond.