Aweil, Sudan
Encyclopedia
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
Aweil is located in Aweil Central County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, in northwestern South Sudan, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan and the Abyei RegionAbyei
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...
. This location lies approximately 800 kilometres (497.1 mi), by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. The coordinates of Aweil are: 8° 46' 48.00"N, 27° 24' 0.00"E (Latitude: 8.7800; Longitude: 27.4000).
Overview
Aweil is the capital city of the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. It is also the county seat of Aweil Central County. The city's infrastructure is relatively developed and includes a functioning railway station, a functioning hotelHotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, a functioning airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
, a soccer stadium and a functioning public hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. The city functions as a team site for the United Nations Mission in Sudan. Several NGOs providing aid 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...
are based here.
The topography is flat and is prone to flooding, although the city itself lies on higher ground that the surrounding plains. The city lies close to the confluence of the Lol River
Lol River
The Lol River, also spelled Loll, is a stream in northern South Sudan that feeds the Bahr al-Arab, known locally as the Kiir River. It meets the larger river in Warrap state, south of the disputed Abyei Area and roughly 100 kilometers west of Bentiu....
with the Pongo River
Pongo River
Pongo River can refer to:*The Pongo River , an estuary in Guinea*The Pongo River , a river in the Bahr el Ghazal region of South Sudan.-See also:*Pungo River, a river in North Carolina*Pongo...
. The average elevation of the city of Aweil is about 425 metres (1,394.4 ft) above sea level. During the rainy season, the plain-dwellers seek refuge on higher ground in the city of Aweil.
Demographics
The population of the city of Aweil fluctuates. During the dry season, the population is lower as the plain-dwellers return to the plains to tend to their gardens and harvest their crops. When the rains come and the plains flood, they return to the city, to escape the raging waters. In November 2008, Doctors Without Borders estimated the town's population at about 100,000.Transport
Aweil has a railway stationRailway stations in South Sudan
All railway stations in South Sudan are on the Babonasa-Wau line, which was built from 1959 to 1962. During the Second Sudanese Civil War, the line was badly damaged and parts of the line were mined, but with help from United Nations funds it was fully restored in 2010-Babanusa - Wau line:- Maps :*...
on the line to Wau built in the 1960s. After a period of disuse due to civil war damage, the line and the station were restored to use in 2010. There is also a new unpaved road that goes through Aweil, which links 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, with 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...
. Aweil is also served by Aweil Airport
Aweil Airport
-Location:Aweil Airport is located in Aweil Central County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, in the town of Aweil, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan and the border with Abyei Region...
.
Governance
The GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State is Major General Paul Malong Awan
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. The Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
of Aweil Central County is Deng Dhieu Nyiwel. The Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the city of Aweil in not known at this time.
Points of interest
The following points of interest are found in or near Aweil:- The headquarters of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Administration
- The headquarters of Aweil Central County Administration
- The offices of Aweil Town Council
- South Sudan Hotel - A private hospitality establishment
- Aweil Railway Station
- Aweil AirportAweil Airport-Location:Aweil Airport is located in Aweil Central County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, in the town of Aweil, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan and the border with Abyei Region...
- Aweil Civil Hospital - One of the only three (3) referral hospitals in South Sudan
- St. George Catholic Church - A place of worship
- Aweil Rice Scheme
- Aweil Soccer Field
- University of Northern Bahr El-GhazalUniversity of Northern Bahr El-Ghazal-Location:The university is located in the city of Aweil, in Aweil Central County, Northern State, in the Bahr el Ghazal Region, in northwstern ern South Sudan, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan...
- Planned for 2011 - St. Mary's Girls Secondary School - A secondary school for girls, owned and administered by the Aweil Dioscese of the Episcopal Church of SudanEpiscopal ChurchAn episcopal church has bishops in its organisational structure which is calledEpiscopal polityEpiscopal Church may refer to:Anglican Communion:...