West Bahr al Ghazal
Encyclopedia
Western Bahr el Ghazal is one of the ten states of South Sudan
. It has an area of 93900 km² (36,255 sq mi) and is the least populous state in South Sudan, according to the controversial Sudan
ese census conducted in 2008. It is part of the Bahr el Ghazal
region. Its capital is Wau. The state shares international borders with Sudan
to the north and the Central African Republic
to the west. The portion now occupied by Raga County is the southern part of the historical region known as "Dar Fertit".
Local ethnic groups include the Balanda Boor
, Balanda Bviri
(Balanda Viri, Balanda Bagari), the Jur Luo, Ndogo
, Kresh, Bai, Baggara Arabs, and many others. Despite the common element "Balanda" in their names, the first two ethnicities are not related. Despite frequent mentions of the existence of a "Fertit people" in Western Bahr el Ghazal, there is no such people.
This state, and Raga County in particular, is the part of South Sudan that was most affected by the slave trade conducted by nearby Muslim sultanates from the 18th century on and by Mameluk Egypt
in the second half of the 19th century, and Raga County is the only part of South Sudan with a significant number of Muslims and a significant number of Arabs. In addition to the Baggara Arabs, another local Muslim ethnic group is the Feroghe (Feroge, etc.). Traditionally, the northern part of Raga County falls within the "Baggara belt", the 1400 kilometer wide section of the central Sahel
in which cattle herding Arabic speaking tribes conduct seasonal nomadic migrations. When the slave trade soared in the 1860's and 1870's, the region's population was decimated, plunging by 75 percent to about 400,000. Depopulation was due to several factors all related to wars that were provoked by the upsurge in slaving promoted by Egypt, factors including: actual capture of inhabitants, emigration of refugees, and epidemics. The population according to the 2008 census is lower still. This may be partly due to the second Sudanese civil war, 1983-1999, which devastated most of South Sudan, exacting a toll of two million dead civilians and hundreds of thousands of refugees.
is subdivided into counties
:
South Sudan claims Kafia Kingi
as part of Western Bahr el Ghazal with 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...
. It has an area of 93900 km² (36,255 sq mi) and is the least populous state in South Sudan, according to the controversial Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese census conducted in 2008. It 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. Its capital is Wau. The state shares international borders with Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
to the north and the Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
to the west. The portion now occupied by Raga County is the southern part of the historical region known as "Dar Fertit".
Local ethnic groups include the Balanda Boor
Balanda Boor
The Balanda Boor are an ethnic group numbering 40,000 to 50,000 people living in the South Sudanese states of Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal....
, Balanda Bviri
Balanda Bviri
The Balanda Bviri are an ethnic group living in the South Sudanese state of Western Bahr el Ghazal.-References:...
(Balanda Viri, Balanda Bagari), the Jur Luo, Ndogo
Ndogo
The Ndogo are an ethnic group from the South Sudan, part of the Fertit.They have an estimated population of 40,000, scattered around Wau, Raga and Deim Zubier....
, Kresh, Bai, Baggara Arabs, and many others. Despite the common element "Balanda" in their names, the first two ethnicities are not related. Despite frequent mentions of the existence of a "Fertit people" in Western Bahr el Ghazal, there is no such people.
This state, and Raga County in particular, is the part of South Sudan that was most affected by the slave trade conducted by nearby Muslim sultanates from the 18th century on and by Mameluk Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in the second half of the 19th century, and Raga County is the only part of South Sudan with a significant number of Muslims and a significant number of Arabs. In addition to the Baggara Arabs, another local Muslim ethnic group is the Feroghe (Feroge, etc.). Traditionally, the northern part of Raga County falls within the "Baggara belt", the 1400 kilometer wide section of the central Sahel
Sahel
The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara desert in the North and the Sudanian Savannas in the south.It stretches across the North African continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea....
in which cattle herding Arabic speaking tribes conduct seasonal nomadic migrations. When the slave trade soared in the 1860's and 1870's, the region's population was decimated, plunging by 75 percent to about 400,000. Depopulation was due to several factors all related to wars that were provoked by the upsurge in slaving promoted by Egypt, factors including: actual capture of inhabitants, emigration of refugees, and epidemics. The population according to the 2008 census is lower still. This may be partly due to the second Sudanese civil war, 1983-1999, which devastated most of South Sudan, exacting a toll of two million dead civilians and hundreds of thousands of refugees.
Administrative divisions
Western Bahr el Ghazal like other ten states of 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 subdivided into counties
Counties of South Sudan
The ten states of the East African country of South Sudan are divided into 86 counties. The ten states are Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Western Equatoria....
:
- Jur River CountyJur River CountyJur River County is a county in Western Bahr el Ghazal state in South Sudan , located in east and northeast of the state, Jur River County is divided into 11 state local constituences. The county has a population of 127,000 inhabitents 2008 census, most of them are from Luo by tribe, 8...
- Raga County
- Wau County
South Sudan claims Kafia Kingi
Kafia Kingi
Kafia Kingi is a community in South Darfur state, Sudan.The Kafia Kingi enclave is a mineral-rich area on the border between Sudan and South Sudan. It was due to be returned to Raga County of Western Bahr al-Ghazal state, South Sudan, under the terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement....
as part of Western Bahr el Ghazal with Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
.
Main cities and towns
- Wau is the capital city of the state.
- Raga is located in the western part of the state.
- AcongeongAcongeongAcongeong or Acumcum) is a town in the state of Western Bahr el Ghazal in northwestern South Sudan. It is located northeast of the city of Wau....
is located northeast of Wau. - Deim ZubeirDeim ZubeirDeim Zubeir is a town in western South Sudan 70 km from the border with the Central African Republic....
is located in the central part of the state.