Central Equatoria


Central Equatoria is a state in South Sudan. With an area of, it is the smallest of the original South Sudanese states. Its previous name was Bahr al-Jabal, named after a tributary of the White Nile that flows through the state. It was renamed Central Equatoria in the first Interim Legislative Assembly on 1 April 2005 under the government of Southern [Sudan (2005–2011)|government of Southern Sudan]. Central Equatoria seceded from Sudan as part of the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011. The state's capital, Juba, is also the national capital of South Sudan. On October 2, 2015, the state was split into three states: Jubek, Terekeka, and Yei River. The state of Central Equatoria was re-established by a peace agreement signed on 22 February 2020.

Administrative divisions

Central Equatoria, like other states in South Sudan, is subdivided into counties, which are further divided into Payams, then Bomas. Each county is led by a County Commissioner, appointed by the State Governor in consultation with the President. They are:
Juba, Kajo Keji, Liria, Mongalla, Wonduruba, Rokon, Tali, Terekeka, Yei, Ji-Menze, Tombek, Tindilo, Kaya, Muni, Morobo, and Rijong. The major border crossing to the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo is at Dimo, a village in the state.

Demographics

Major tribes of Central Equatoria have included the
Bari,
Mandari,
Pojulu, Kakwa, Keliko, Kuku, Lugbara, Avukaya, Baka, Nyangwara, Adio, and Lulubo. Minor tribes have included the Nyepo in Northern Kajo Keji County and the Lokoya along the Nimule Road. Erasto Gonda, Senior Folklore Officer for Central Equatoria's information ministry, further detailed the State's demographics:

Culture and languages

Due to the South Sudanese Civil War, the state's culture was heavily influenced by the countries neighboring South Sudan. Many South Sudanese fled to Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, where they interacted with the nationals and learned their languages and culture. Most of those who remained in the country or went north to Sudan and Egypt assimilated into Arab culture.
It is also worth noting that most South Sudanese diaspore kept the core of their culture even while in exile. Traditional culture is highly held and great attention is given to knowing one's origin and dialect. Although the common languages spoken are Juba Arabic and English, Swahili began to be introduced to the population to improve the country's relations with its East African neighbors. Many people from Central Equatoria use English, Kiswahili, Juba Arabic, their dialect, or a mixture of the languages mentioned.

Government

Directly before Central Equatoria split up into three separate states in 2015, the government was as shown:

Advisors

  1. Angelo Daya Loku, peace and security
  2. David Wani, Economic affairs
  3. Jacob Gore Samuel, Legal Affairs
  4. JeniferYobu, Human Rights
  5. Mariam A. Zachariah, Fever and social welfare

Ministers

  1. Hon. Wayi Godwin Edward, Minister of Cabinet Affairs
  2. Hon. Moro Isaac Geneios, Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement
  3. Hon. Gerald Francis Nyukuye, Minister of Peace Building
  4. Hon. Taban Emmanuel Baya, Minister of parliamentary and Legal Affairs
  5. Hon. Andruga Mabe Severio, Minister of Information and Communication
  6. Hon. Rita Dominic Lado, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
  7. Hon. Diana Susu Hassan, Minister of Finance, Planning, and Investment
  8. Hon. Wani Tom Sebit, Minister of Trade and Industry
  9. Hon. Lily Kufuki Paul, Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Forestry
  10. Hon. Alex Latio Elia, Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries and Tourism
  11. Hon Peter Lujo Yospeta, Minister of Cooperative and Rural Development
  12. Hon. Flora Gabriel Modi, Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities
  13. Hon. Mawa A. Moses, Minister of Roads and Bridges
  14. Hon. Modi John Molla, Minister of Labor, public services and Human Resource
  15. Hon. Nejua Marsha, Minister of Heath
  16. Hon. Cirisio Zachariah, Minister of General Education and Instruction
  17. Hon. Bullen Soro Amos, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare

Independent Commissions

  1. George Wani Elia, Anti- corruption deputized by Kenyi Abiaso
  2. Asio Moses John, employees justice chamber deputized by Huda Michael Laila
  3. Marino Michael Sebit, HIV/AIDS
  4. Felix Lado Johnson, PRC deputized by Amal Suleiman
  5. Isaac Wuri Eluni, Human Rights deputized by Emmanuel kose Wani
  6. Henry Kala Sabuni, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation deputized by Amule Barnabas Lemi

County commissioners

  1. Hon. Charles Joseph Wani, Juba County
  2. Hon. Aggrey Cyrus, Yei River County
  3. Hon. Joseph Mawa, Morobo County
  4. Hon. James Lino Malou Anok, Terekeka County
  5. Hon. Emmauel Khamis Richard, Lainya County
  6. Hon. Kenyi Erasto Michael, Kajo Keji County