Western Equatoria

Western Equatoria
—  State  —
Children in Yambio
Flag
Location in South Sudan.
Coordinates: 5°19′N 28°24′E
Country	South Sudan
Region	Equatoria
No. of counties:	10
Capital	Yambio
Area
• Total	79,319 km2 (30,625 sq mi)
Population (2008)
• Total	619,029
• Density	7.8/km2 (20/sq mi)
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Western Equatoria is one of the 10 states of South Sudan. It has an area of 79,319 km². Its capital is Yambio. The state is divided into counties, each headed by a County Commissioner. Western Equatoria seceded from Sudan as part of the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011.

History

In the 1880s, Western Equatoria was home to the Azande administration of King Gbudwe, which ruled much of the area at the time.

In the middle of twentieth century, after Sudan's independence in 1956, a number of southern Sudanese independence liberation movements, such as the Anyanya and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M), led by John Garang de Mabior, made their impact on the area, as they envisioned a New Sudan.

Current conflict

In 2005 a peace treaty was signed, but there is still some insurgent activity.

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), under the command of Joseph Kony, moved its base from Uganda to the southern Sudan border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and operates in the Western Equatoria region. Before the 2005 peace deal, the LRA had used Western Equatoria as a base for its operations against the Ugandan government of President Yoweri Museveni. But SPLA troop patrols in the region largely maintain control.

In 2009 local communities in Western Equatoria formed a self protection unit, the Arrow Boys, using traditional weapons such as bows, arrows and spears to combat the LRA.

Counties

There are a total of 10 counties in Western Equatoria:

• Yambio County
• Nzara County
• Ibba County
• Ezo County
• Maridi East County
• Tambora County
• Mundri West County
• Mvolo County
• Najero County
• Mundri County

Economy and demographics

The economy of Western Equatoria is largely agricultural, with high quality timber being one of its most important products.

Western Equatoria is home of the Azande people, the third largest nationality in South Sudan.

Government

• Governor: Col Joseph Bakosoro
• Secretary General for the Government: Edward Bakama
• Deputy Secretary General: Alfred Riruyo Ngbakogbe
• Deputy Governor and Minister of Commerce, Trade and Investment: Sapana Abui
• Director General: Jackson Hussein
• Minister of Local Government & Law Enforcement: Col Ismael Sidigi
• Director General: Aggrey Brown Soro
• Minister of Education, Science & Technology: Adil Elia Sandri
• Director General: Naama Bullen
• Minister of Finance, Trade & Industry: Charles A
• Ag/Director General: Paul Dasio
• Minister of Health: Stephen Kumunyangi
• Ag/Director General: Raphael Tarifa
• Minister of Agriculture, Animal Resource and Forestry (MAAF): Prof Mathew Udo
• Director General: Samuel Anibie Datiro
• Minister of Social Development: Grace Jeremiah Datiro
• Director General: Anthony Moudie
• Minister Physical Infrastructure and Public Utilities: Batrus Magaya Manane
• Ag/Director General: Dunstun Wajo
• Minister of Parliamentary Affairs: Major General (Prison), Moses Simangi Sogora

Advisors

• Political Affairs: Paul Tambua Erua
• Security Affairs: Jasmine Samuel Adakkayi
• Economic Affairs: John Erisa
• Agricultural Affairs: Faustino Mokorondere
• Gender, HIV/AIDS: Mary Biba

State Assembly Business Committees

• Speaker: Mr.Edward Bukulu
• Deputy Speaker: Mr. Abas Bullen (UDSF)

County Commissioners

• Yambio County: Angelo Bakote
• Nzara County: Elia Box
• Ezo County: Ambrose Raphael Tamania
• Tambura County: Pauda Baabe Sungu
• Nagero County: Joseph Natale Sabuni
• Ibba County: Moses Bakote Kalisto
• Maridi County: Mathius Boy Onji
• Mundri-East: Lieutenant Colonel Wilson Api
• Mundri-West: Bullen Abiatara Ariwari
• Mvolo County: Wilson Abraham

See also

• South Sudan Equatorians Association Inc.
• South Sudan, the former Southern Sudan.
• Central Equatoria
• Eastern Equatoria
• Equatoria

External links

• South Sudan Internet radio
• Equatorians Abroad
• Video of Equatorians Abroad