North Bahr al Ghazal
Encyclopedia
Northern Bahr el Ghazal is one of the 10 states of South Sudan
. It has an area of 30,543 km² and is part of the Bahr el Ghazal
region. It borders South Darfur
to the north, Western Bahr el Ghazal to the west and south, and Warab
and Abyei
to the east. Aweil is the capital of the state.
Because of its proximity to Kordofan and the presence of a railway line through it to Wau
it suffered extensively in the recently ended civil war
in southern Sudan. North Bahr al Ghazal and adjacent parts of Western Kordofan to the north are among the most politically sensitive regions in Sudan. Missriya
Arabs from Kordofan have interacted with Dinka
in this region over a long time. While relations during the colonial era were largely peaceful, the recent war saw an upsurge in hostilities. Government backing to the Missriya gave them a decided advantage over local Dinka groups, and raiding by murahileen militias (and other government backed groups, including some Dinka militias) resulted in considerable loss of life, widespread abduction and pillaging of Dinka villages. Many of these raids coincided with the movement of government trains to and from Kordofan to Wau
.
State Advisors are:
, is divided into counties
, headed by a County Commissioner, as illustrated below:
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...
. It has an area of 30,543 km² and is part of the 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...
region. It borders South Darfur
South Darfur
South Darfur is one of the 15 wilayat or states of Sudan. It is one of the three states that compose the region of Darfur in western Sudan. It has an area of and an estimated population of approximately 2,890,000 . Nyala is the capital of the state. The State was affected by the 2010 Sahel...
to the north, Western Bahr el Ghazal to the west and south, and Warab
Warab (state)
Warrap, sometimes spelled Warab, is one of the 10 states of South Sudan, located in the Bahr el Ghazal region. It has an area of 31,027 km². Kuajok is the capital of Warrap state, replacing Warrap...
and Abyei
Abyei
The Abyei Area is an area of in Sudan accorded "special administrative status" by the 2004 Protocol on the resolution of the Abyei conflict in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War. The capital of Abyei Area is Abyei Town...
to the east. Aweil is the capital of the state.
Because of its proximity to Kordofan and the presence of a railway line through it to Wau
Wau, Sudan
Wau is a city in South Sudan.-Location:It lies on the western bank of the Jur River, in Wau County, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, in northwestern South Sudan. Its location lies approximately , northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in that country...
it suffered extensively in the recently ended 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....
in southern Sudan. North Bahr al Ghazal and adjacent parts of Western Kordofan to the north are among the most politically sensitive regions in Sudan. Missriya
Missriya
Missriya are a tribe of semi-nomadic Arabs living in Kordofan, Sudan....
Arabs from Kordofan have interacted with Dinka
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 ...
in this region over a long time. While relations during the colonial era were largely peaceful, the recent war saw an upsurge in hostilities. Government backing to the Missriya gave them a decided advantage over local Dinka groups, and raiding by murahileen militias (and other government backed groups, including some Dinka militias) resulted in considerable loss of life, widespread abduction and pillaging of Dinka villages. Many of these raids coincided with the movement of government trains to and from Kordofan to Wau
Wau, Sudan
Wau is a city in South Sudan.-Location:It lies on the western bank of the Jur River, in Wau County, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, in northwestern South Sudan. Its location lies approximately , northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in that country...
.
Government
Paul Malong Awan is the governor of the state. He swore in new state cabinet on July 22, 2008. Its members are:- Deputy Governor & minister of information & communication - Arkenjelo Athian Teng Angok
- State Minister of Finance - Ajou Garang Deng (Ajou Makot)
- State Minister of Health - Ms. Akon Bol Akok
- State Mister of Parliamentary Affairs - Garang Diing Akuong
- State Minister of Education, Science and Technology - Stephen Chol Unguec
- State minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agents - Bak Lual Bol (Bak Abu-ajac)
- State minister of physical infrastructure - Giir Riiny Lual
- State minister of Agriculture - Angui Akot
- Secretary General of State Council of Ministers - Yel Deng Nguel
State Advisors are:
- Pio Tem Kuac Ngor - Political Advisor
- Tong Atak Mel - Economics Affairs Advisor
- Akok Bol Mador - Local Government
- Riak Wol Atuer - Security Advisor
Administrative divisions
Northern Bahr al Ghazal, like other states in 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...
, is divided into counties
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
, headed by a County Commissioner, as illustrated below:
- Aweil North County - Estimated Population (2008) - 129,130 - Angui Diing Diing
- Aweil East CountyAweil East County-Location:The county is located in the eastern part of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, in northern South Sudan, close to the border with the Republic of Sudan...
- Estimated Population (2008) - 309,920 - Diing Aher Ngong - Aweil West CountyAweil West County-Location:Western Aweil county is bordered by Aweil North County to the north, Aweil East County to the east, Aweil South County to the southeast, Aweil Central County to the south and Raga County in Western BAhr el Ghazal State to the west....
- Estimated Population (2008) - 166,220 - Santo Ayuel Akuei - Aweil Central County - Estimated Population (2008) - 41,830 - Deng Dhieu Nyiwel
- Aweil South County - Estimated Population (2008) - 73,810 - TBA
Books
- Francis M. Deng, 1995, War of Visions, Conflict of Identities in the Sudan, (Washington D.C.: Brookings)
- Human Rights Watch, 1999, Famine in Sudan, 1998, The Human Rights Causes, (New York, Human Rights Watch).
- Dave Eggers, 2006, What is the What, (New York, Vintage Books).
- David Keen, 1994, The Benefits of Famine, A Political Economy of Famine and Relief in Southwestern Sudan, 1983–1989, (New Jersey, Princeton University Press).
External links
- John Ryle, Jok Madut Jok and Fergus Boyle, 2003, Sudan Abduction and Slavery Project, Abductee Database 2003 Report
- "Northern Bahr el Ghazal State gets in new cabinet" http://www.k2-media.org/jubapost/go/record.php?cat=7&recordID=459