Northern Bahr el Ghazal

Northern Bahr el Ghazal
State
2011–2015
Flag
Location in South Sudan
Capital		Aweil
History
•	Independence of South Sudan	2011
•	Reorganisation of states	2015
Area		30,453.30 km2 (11,758 sq mi)

Malual Station

Northern Bahr el Ghazal was one of the 10 states of South Sudan before they were reorganised in 2015. It had an area of 30,543 km²^[1] and was part of the Bahr el Ghazal region. It bordered South Darfur to the north, Western Bahr el Ghazal to the west and south, and Warrap and Abyei to the east. Aweil was the capital of the state.

History

Because of its proximity to Kordofan and the presence of a railway line through it to Wau, it suffered extensively in the 1983–2005 civil war in southern Sudan. North Bahr al Ghazal and adjacent parts of Western Kordofan to the north were 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 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.

It had the highest rate of poverty, 76% according to government statistics, of the 10 states of South Sudan.^[2]

Government

Retired Gen. Salva Chol Ayat was the last Acting governor of the state. He replaced Kuel Aguer Kuel in April 2015.

Administration

Northern Bahr al Ghazal, like other states in South Sudan, was divided into counties; there were five counties, headed by a County Commissioner, as detailed below:^[3]

The counties are further divided into Payams, then Bomas.

References

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).
• Garang Malong, 2012, Theatre of Hope( Nairobi University, Kenya)
• Aweil graduates network( 2013)

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"