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Juba


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Juba
Capital city
From top, left to right:
View of Juba, John Garang Mausoleum Square, aerial view, United Nations (UTair) Boeing 737, White Nile river in Juba
StateCentral Equatoria
CountyJuba
PayamJuba
Founded1922
Government
 • TypeMayor-council government
 • MayorStephen Wani Michael
Area
Population
 (2017 estimate)
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)
ClimateAw
Juba, Kingdom of Egypt in the 1930s

Juba (Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.)[1] is the capital and largest city of South Sudan. The city is situated on the White Nile and also serves as the capital of the Central Equatoria State. It is the most recently declared national capital and had a population of 525,953 in 2017. It has an area of 52 km2 (20 sq mi), with the metropolitan area covering 336 km2 (130 sq mi).

Juba was established in 1920–21 by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in a small Bari village, also called Juba. The city was made as the capital of Mongalla Province in the late 1920s. The growth of the town accelerated following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005,[2] which made Juba the capital of the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan. Juba became the capital of South Sudan in 2011 after its independence, but influential parties wanted Ramciel to be the capital. The government announced the move of the capital to Ramciel, but it is yet to occur.

History[edit]

Under the Khedivate of Egypt, Juba served as the southernmost garrison of the Egyptian army, quartering only a handful of soldiers. Disease was common; soldiers often fell ill due to the malaria, meningitis and blackwater fever that was prevalent in the region. Explorers and campaigners Samuel Baker and Florence Baker used the nearby island of Gondokoro as a base during their expeditions to what is now South Sudan and northern Uganda from 1863 to 1865 and 1871 to 1873.[3]

The present city of Juba was established on the site of a small Bari village, also called Juba,[4] where the Church Missionary Society (CMS) had established a mission and the Nugent Memorial Intermediate School in 1920–21.[5][6][7] In the late 1920s, Anglo-Egyptian officials ordered Bari residents to relocate so that a new town could be constructed to serve as the capital of Mongalla Province.[8] The site was chosen by Anglo-Egyptian officials partly because of the presence of the CMS Nugent Memorial Intermediate School there, and partly because its proximity to river transportation on the Nile.[9][10] Major construction of the new city of Juba was underway by 1927.[8] Traders from Rejaf relocated to the new city in 1929, and the Governor's office of Mongalla was moved there in 1930.[11][12]

Greek merchants supplying the British Army played an early and central role in the establishment of Juba in the early 1920s.[13] Their number never exceeded 2,000, but because of their excellent relationship with the native Bari people and the large amount of resulting assistance they received, they built many structures in the downtown Juba Market area as well as in the area that the contemporary British soldiers called the Greek Quarter, which is today the small suburb of Hai Jalaba. Many of these structures are still standing today. Public buildings such as the Ivory Bank, Notos Lounge, the old Sudan Airways Building, Paradise Hotel, and the Nile Commercial Bank and Buffalo Commercial Bank were all built by Greeks. Greek merchants were responsible for the construction of the Central Bank building in the mid-1940s, as well as the Juba Hotel in the mid-1930s.[14]

From the establishment of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1899 the British administerd southern Sudan separately from the north. In 1946, without consulting Southern opinion, the British administration began instead to implement a policy of uniting the north and the south. To facilitate the new policy, the Juba Conference was convened as a gesture to southerners,[15] the hidden aim being the appeasement of northern Sudanese nationalists and the Egyptian government.[16]

Until 1956, Juba was in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, which was jointly administered by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Egypt. In 1955, a mutiny of southern soldiers in Torit sparked the First Sudanese Civil War, which did not end until 1972. During the Second Sudanese Civil War, Juba was a strategic location that was the focus of much fighting.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.[<span title="Script error: No such module "delink".">citation needed]

In 2005, Juba became the interim seat and the capital of the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (before the agreement, Rumbek had been the proposed interim capital). With the advent of peace, the United Nations increased its presence in Juba, shifting its management of operations in Southern Sudan from its previous location in Kenya. Under the leadership of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations established a camp known as "OCHA Camp", which served as a base for many United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.[<span title="Script error: No such module "delink".">citation needed]

Juba became the world's newest national capital on 9 July 2011, when South Sudan formally declared its independence from the Republic of the Sudan. However, influential parties including the South Sudanese government expressed dissatisfaction with the city's suitability as a national capital, and the government proposed that a new planned city be built as a replacement capital elsewhere, most likely Ramciel in Lakes.[17]

On 5 September 2011, the government announced the capital of South Sudan would move some 250 km away from Juba to Ramciel, which is located in the middle of South Sudan, about 60 km East of Yirol West County, Lakes State. As of June 2020, the move has yet to occur.

In September 2015, nearly 200 people were killed in a tanker explosion in Juba.[18]

Since the beginning of the 2023 Sudan Conflict, approximately 6,000 refugees have arrived in the city.[19] Many settled in Gorom, an area near the city, and have struggled from lack of humanitarian aid.

Government[edit]

Juba is led by a city council, formed in March 2011. The council was established by Governor Clement Wani Konga who appointed Mohammed El Haj Baballa mayor of the council and former Yei County Commissioner David Lokonga Moses was appointed as deputy mayor. A ministerial committee to keep Juba clean and sanitary was also created by gubernatorial decree at the same time.[20]

In Michael Lado Allah-Jabu was appointed mayor of the city council following the removal of Kalisto Lado by Governor of Central Equatoria Emmanuel Adil Anthony.[21] Allah-Jabu was himself removed by Adil Anthony on 27 June 2023. Following his removal, Emmanuel Khamis was appointed caretaker mayor.[22]

Prior to March 2011, the area now administered by Juba City Council was divided into Juba, Kator, and Muniki payams. It is now a standalone subdivision of Juba County,[20] of which it is the county seat.[23]

Transportation[edit]

Juba Bridge, a Bailey bridge over the White Nile

The city is a river port and the southern terminus of traffic along the Nile (specifically along the Bahr-al-Ghazal portion of the White Nile).[24] Before the civil war, Juba was also a transport hub, with highways connecting it to Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Since the end of the war Juba has been unable to recover to its pre-war state and is no longer a significant trade city. Roads and the river harbour are no longer in use due to being in disrepair. The United Nations and the South Sudanese government are working on repairing the roads, but a full repair is expected to take many years. In 2003, the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) started to clear the roads leading from Juba to Uganda and Kenya. It was expected that these roads would be completely de-mined and rebuilt in the course of 2006–2008.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.[<span title="Script error: No such module "delink".">citation needed] The rebuilding of the roads, which are mostly unpaved, takes a tremendous amount of effort and time because of the limited work season due to the lengthy rainy season, which lasts from March until October. The roads are important for the peace process in Sudan as people need them to return to their homes and to regain what they feel is a normal life. The first road that has started to be rebuilt is the road to Uganda. This road is particularly important, as many of the original inhabitants of Juba fled to Uganda during the war. As of 2009, there are three paved roads in Juba, one that was re-surfaced in July. The main one is a concrete road, built by the British in the 1950s.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.[<span title="Script error: No such module "delink".">citation needed]

Between 2008 and 2011, the Ugandan government and the South Sudanese government undertook joint efforts to develop a railway link between the Northern Ugandan city of Gulu and Juba, with an extension to Wau. A memorandum of understanding between the two governments was signed to that effect in August 2008.[25] The same memorandum outlined plans to develop the road network between the two countries. Recent media reports from the region suggest that the railway link from Juba may link directly with Kenya, bypassing Uganda.[26]

Juba International Airport (IATA: JUB, ICAO: HJJJ) is the site of large numbers of flights bringing UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) aid into South Sudan, as well as passengers and general air freight. The construction of a new terminal was begun in late 2007 when the oil prices were very high ($100+). Since then – with the oil prices going back down – the fate of the new terminal is uncertain. Building on the new terminal restarted in early 2014.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.[<span title="Script error: No such module "delink".">citation needed] As of February 2014, there are daily flights to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya; Khartoum International Airport in Sudan; Entebbe International Airport in Entebbe, Uganda; and Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has a large compound near the Juba Airport.

Demography[edit]

In 2005, Juba's population was 163,442. Based on analysis of aerial photos, the best estimate of several donors working in Juba calculated the 2006 population at approximately 250,000. The 5th Sudan Population and Housing Census took place in April/May 2008, stating the population of Juba County to be 372,413 (the majority residing in Juba City, which dominates the county), but the results were rejected by the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan.[27] Juba is developing very rapidly due to oil money and the Chinese coming for work and development.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.[<span title="Script error: No such module "delink".">citation needed] In 2011, the population of the city of Juba is estimated at 372,410, but may potentially be more.[28] As of 2013, the city's population was growing at a rate of 4.23%.[29] The Juba City Council's CEO, Martin Simon Wani, has claimed the population exceeds one million with up to a million more living in surrounding suburbs.[30] Suburbs adjacent to Juba have become increasingly dense as people from the countryside move into the city for economic opportunities.[31]

Year Population
1973 (census) 56,740
1983 (census) 83,790
1993 (census) 114,980
2005 (estimate) 163,440
2006 (estimate) 250,000 [32]
2008 (estimate) 250,000 [29]
2011 (estimate) 372,410
2014 (estimate) 492,970

Economy[edit]

Juba has been described as undergoing an economic boom, especially in the past five years and since independence.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Category handler/data' not found.[<span title="Script error: No such module "delink".">citation needed] The prospect of an economic boom has brought thousands of merchants to Juba, mostly from northern Sudan and from East Africa. As of October 2010, several regional and international businesses have established a presence in Juba. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and the Kenyan banking conglomerate Kenya Commercial Bank has its South Sudanese headquarters in the city and a branch network of eleven branches throughout South Sudan.[33] The three indigenous South Sudanese commercial banks namely; Buffalo Commercial Bank, Ivory Bank and Nile Commercial Bank, all maintain their headquarters in Juba. Equity Bank, another regional finance services provider also has a branch in Juba. National Insurance Corporation (NIC), the leading Ugandan insurance services provider, maintains an office in the city.[34] Despite recent economic difficulties brought about by the 15 December 2013 civil war, Juba has continued to grow and construction is still booming. This is probably due to the high demand for affordable housing and hotel accommodations. Research from the Overseas Development Institute found that markets in Juba are transient, as many traders only come to make a quick profit and so do not invest in storage facilities or shops.[35]

Roads In Juba[edit]

Juba has major roads that go to major towns in South Sudan, such roads include the Juba-Nimule road[36] and the Aggrey Jaden Road.[37]

Education[edit]

  • The University of Juba was founded in 1975.[38]
  • Upper Nile University in Juba
  • The Juba Public Peace Library was founded on 1 October 2019.[39][40] The library was donated by The South Sudan Library Foundation and contains over 13,000 books. It is the first public library of South Sudan. The South Sudan Library Foundation was co-founded by Yawusa Kintha and Kevin Lenahan.[40][41]
  • Kampala International University[42]
  • Catholic University of South Sudan
  • Episcopal University of South Sudan
  • Starford International University
  • Ayii University

Health services[edit]

Places of worship[edit]

Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Christian churches and temples: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Juba (Catholic Church), Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (Anglican Communion), Baptist Convention of South Sudan (Baptist World Alliance), Presbyterian Church in Sudan (World Communion of Reformed Churches).[45]

Climate[edit]

Juba has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen: Aw),[46] and as it lies near the equator, temperatures are hot year-round. However, little rain falls from November to March, which is also the time of the year with the hottest maximum temperatures, reaching 38 °C (100 °F) in February. From April to October, more than 100 millimetres (3.9 in) of rain falls per month. The annual total precipitation is nearly 1,000 mm (39 in).


Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Juba: is the capital of South Sudan, on the White Nile river. Pop: 250 000 (2006 est)". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Martin, Ellen; Mosel, Irina (January 2011). "City limits: urbanisation and vulnerability in Sudan" (PDF). Overseas Department Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  3. ↑ Shipman, Pat. To The Heart of the Nile: Lady Florence Baker and the Exploration of Central Africa
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Keen, Rosemary (n.d.). "Church Missionary Society Archive, General Introduction and Guide to the Archive". ampltd.co.uk. Adam Matthew Publications, Pelham House. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ Tuttle, Brendan (2021). "To the Juba Wharf". Juba in the Making. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "Juba in the Making". jubainthemaking.com. L'Humanité, Le Monde Afrique, & Internazionale.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ Greek Community of Juba Archives
  15. ↑ "Juba conf". madingaweil.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2007.
  16. ↑
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ Rubin, Jonathan M. (2006), "Liquefied Natural Gas Tanker Truck Explosion", Disaster Medicine, Elsevier, pp. 784–785, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-03253-7.50160-6, ISBN 9780323032537, retrieved 9 November 2021
  19. ↑
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1
  21. ↑ "Adil appoints new Juba mayor after Kalisto's dismissal". The City Review. 20 November 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  22. ↑ Ninrew, Chany (27 June 2023). "Gov. Adil relieves Mayor Allah-Juba". Eye Radio. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  23. ↑ "Central Equatoria State". NileBuffalo Gazette. 2008. Archived from the original on 20 March 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  24. ↑
  25. ↑ "Gulu – Juba Railway in the Offing". Pachodo.org. 20 September 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  26. ↑ Thome, Wolfgang H. (14 September 2010). "Railway Link From Juba May Go Directly To Kenya". Eturbonews.com. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  27. ↑
  28. ↑ "Estimated Population in 2011". Wolframalpha.com. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "The World Factbook: South Sudan". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  30. ↑
  31. ↑
  32. ↑ "Estimated Population in 2006". Tripwiser.com. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  33. ↑ "About KCB Southern Sudan". Kcbbankgroup.com. 4 March 2008. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  34. ↑ NIC Expands Into Sudan
  35. ↑ Irina Mosel and Emily Henderson (2015) Markets in crises: South Sudan case study London: Overseas Development Institute
  36. ↑ "JUBA-NIMULE ROAD | GULSAN HOLDİNG". Gulsan. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  37. ↑ Ngong, Akol Madut (31 October 2021). "Juba-Yei-Kaya road to be named after Aggrey Jaden". One Citizen Daily. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  38. ↑ "Juba". Britannica Online. 20 July 1998. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  39. ↑ "First public library opens in South Sudan, advocates for peace". The Christian Times. South Sudan. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Instilling a culture of reading; South Sudan looks forward to new public library". Audioboom. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  41. ↑ "MBA student establishes NGO to improve literacy in South Sudan". The University of Sydney. 7 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  42. ↑ "S. Sudanese students lose court case against Kampala University". Eye Radio. 21 October 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  43. ↑ "Juba Teaching Hospital | EA Health". eahealth.org. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  44. ↑ "NYAKURON PHCC – Juba County". southsudanpharma.org. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  45. ↑ Britannica, South Sudan, britannica.com, USA, accessed on 8 September 2019
  46. ↑ "Climate: Juba – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  47. ↑
  48. ↑

External links[edit]

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