Northern Bahr el Ghazal

Northern Bahr el Ghazal
State
Local Classroom in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State 2002
Flag
Location in South Sudan.
Coordinates:
Country	South Sudan
Region	Bahr el Ghazal
Capital	Aweil
Area
• Total	30,543.30 km2 (11,792.83 sq mi)
Population (2008)
• Total	720,898
• Density	24/km2 (61/sq mi)
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

File:Malual Station.jpg

Aweil Railway

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 Warrap 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.

It has the highest rate of poverty, 76% according to government statistics, of the 10 states of South Sudan.

Government

Retired Gen. Salva Chol Ayat is the Acting governor of the state. He replaced Hon. Kuel Aguer Kuel in April 2015. Other State cabinet members are:

• Deputy Governor - Salva Chol Ayat
• minister of information & communication - Wek Kuch Deng
• State Minister of Finance - Ayii Bol Akol
• State Minister of Health - Tong Deng Anei
• State Mister of Parliamentary Affairs - Daniel Akol Diing
• State Minister of Education, Science and Technology - Valentino Achaak Deng Nyibek
• State Minister of Legal Affairs - vacant
• State Minister of Physical infrastructure - Angelo Uguak Arun
• State Minister of Agriculture - Lual Dau Marac
• Secretary General of State Council of Ministers - Vacant

State Advisors are:

• Political Advisor - George Garang Lual
• Economics Affairs Advisor - Vacant
• Local Government - vacant
• Security Advisor - Joseph Akok Manyiel

Administration

Northern Bahr al Ghazal, like other states in South Sudan, is divided into counties; there are five counties, headed by a County Commissioner, as illustrated below:

County	Area (km2)	Population Census 2008	County Commissioner
Aweil North	6,376.53	129,127	Cmr Kuol Athuai
Aweil East	6,172.23	309,921	Awet Kiir Awet
Aweil South	1,786.95	73,806	Jel Mangok
Aweil West	5,030.22	166,217	Garang Tong
Aweil Central	11,177.40	41,827	Arkangelo Uchu

The counties are further divided into Payams, then Bomas.

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" [1]