Northern Bahr el Ghazal

History

Because of its proximity to Kordofan and the presence of a railway line through it to Wau, it suffered extensively in the 1983–2005 civil war in southern Sudan. North Bahr al Ghazal and adjacent parts of Western Kordofan to the north were among the most politically sensitive regions in Sudan. Missriya Arabs from Kordofan have interacted with Dinka in this region over a long time. While relations during the colonial era were largely peaceful, the war saw an upsurge in hostilities. Government backing to the Missriya gave them a decided advantage over local Dinka groups, and raiding by murahileen militias (and other government backed groups, including some Dinka militias) resulted in considerable loss of life, widespread abduction and pillaging of Dinka villages. Many of these raids coincided with the movement of government trains to and from Kordofan to Wau.

It had the highest rate of poverty, 76% according to government statistics, of the 10 states of South Sudan.

In October 2015, President Salva Kiir divided the original ten states of South Sudan into 28 states. Northern Bahr el Ghazal was divided into the new states of Aweil, Aweil East, and a part of Lol.

On 22 January 2020, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, along with the rest of the original ten states of South Sudan, was re-established at the conclusion of a peace agreement resolving the South Sudanese Civil War. Tong Aken Ngor, appointed by President Kiir as Governor of Aweil State in 2019, was sworn in as the Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal in the wake of the state's re-establishment. Before the total establishment of Anglo-Egyptian rule in Sudan at the end of the nineteen century, Aweil had already established a relationship with the Mahdiyya state, through some of its first influential traditional leaders such as Chak-Chak, also known as “Dengdit”, a grandfather of Sultan Albino Akot Autiak. The country of origin of Chak-Chak is not known, but it was believed that he had come from Central Africa Republic (CAR). Chak-Chak allied himself with a renown Ja’ali’s slave trader, Zubier Rh’ama Mansour (Zubier Pasha), at around 1883. This alliance with Zubier Mansour cemented Chak-Chak’s powers when he was armed by Zubier Mansour. As another slave trader, Chak-Chak managed to establish his slave compound around Nyamlell and Shelkou, the present day Aweil west. In his quest to maintain peace and harmony with the local people living in the area, Chak-Chak heeded advice from Parek clan not to enslave anyone around the area in which he resided. With exception of some periodic raids on Lou Land (JurCol), resulting in many Lou being taken into slavery, Chak Chak overall maintained a good relationship with his Dinka neighbours.

Another key player in Aweil history was Aken Akec, from Patek clan, whose knowledge of the Arabic language enabled him to establish contact with the northerners, making him the only man in Aweil to initiate such an outside contact. He was a hunter who hunted giraffes on horseback. Aken Akec came from Peth Atak in North West Aweil.

(Until) the beginning of the 1900s, Ungech Ajonga emerged in the Jur area. He was the grandfather to Commander James Ajonga Mawut Ungech. Ungech Ajonga was another man in the Patek clan from the Lou area who established a relationship with Aken Akec. When the need arose for the establishment of the Anglo-Egyptian administrative headquarters in the Aweil area, both Ungech Ajonga and Aken Akec recommended that Nyamelell be the capital of the newly founded district in 1916. With consent from Dengdit (Chak-Chak), Nyamlell was officially made District Headquarters of the Aweil Area in June 1917. Before long, Aken Akec had a quarrel with his native people of Peth Atak. He decided to transfer the capital to an area far from Peth Atak. With consent from Chief Ungech Ajonga, the two chiefs decided to approach the Anglo-Egyptian Administration to move the District Headquarters to Aroyo. In 1919, the Capital was moved to Aroyo, which lies entirely in the thick forest of Aweil West, just miles away from Raja in West Bhar El Gazal. Within two years of its establishment, Anglo-Egyptian administration decided to abandon Aroyo as district capital due to strategic reasons. Aroyo is located in the thick forest and could possibly undermine the suppression of resistance to Anglo-Egyptian Rule in the area. The Anglo-Egyptian rulers decided to consult with those of Ungech Ajonga and Aken Akec to help in finding a new site for the District capital. Chief Ungech Ajonga suggested Alok as a good site for the District Headquarters due to its strategic location. However, Aken Akec suggested Mading Ayuel for the District capital. Alok and Mading AYuel were both strategically important as they both share almost equal features. From the east and west of Alok is Toj or Toc and the south and north of Alok is thick forests. That could help the Anglo-Egyptian forces to defend it from the resistance. Alok was chosen as district Capital, simply because it was seen as both a strategically and militarily wise location, situated just 63 Miles to the north of Wau which is the capital of Bhar El Gazal province. Before the Anglo-Egyptian administration came to Alok, the resistance of our people against the invaders was building up. On the 29th of April, 1921, the battle for the control of Alok, otherwise known as Waj-Atiar (which is literally translated to mean ‘battle in which the goat skins which used to be worn by men had all been soaked in the battle’) began. Due to the superior weaponry of the invaders, locals were forced to seek refuge in the water of river kueng-alok for more than a day, before they could find a chance to tactically withdraw, hence the name, “Waj-Atiar”. The tales of the Waj-atiar war are still narrated today by the Dinka people of Aweil. Among the fighters of waj-atiar war are the following heroes: Chief Wek Ateny Ayom the father of the author, he was only19 years of age and was initiated one year before this war; Akol Tong (Akol-bok) the father of Major general Albino Akol Akol; Deng Akot, father of a well-known politician Deng Deng Akot, who was killed in Aweil town in 1983, by the security forces of Nemiri’s regime, few days after the formation of the SPLM/A on the 16th May 1983; Lual Akuey Lual, known as (Lual-Maloc) a father to veteran politician, and the former SPLM Secretary of Education Mr Lawrence Lual Lual Akuey; Chief Kuac Ngor of Dulueit, father of chief Pio Tem Kuac; Chief Deng Akuey Ajou; and Chief Mawien Diing Akol of Ajuet Diing who was said to have participated in the Waj-atiar war, when he was just a boy of 14 or 15 years. However, although the author had met and talked several times with Chief Mawien Diing, he cannot confirm this.

As mentioned above, there were many other participants of Waj-atiar war but not every single name of the participants and heroes of the Mading Aweil land who participated in Waj-Atiar war to resist aggressors is presented here. Because the battle for the control of Alok was fiercely fought by the local people, the Anglo-Egyptians decided to move the district Headquarters to Mading-Ayuel or Aweil in July 1921. Mading Ayuel or Aweil was officially opened on the 10th of January 1922. The transfer of the District Headquarters to the Aweil area was a victory to Aken Akec. Although the Dinka had their spiritual leaders, assisted by the Council of elders in administering people, the need to appoint executive Chiefs arose soon after the establishment of the Anglo-Egyptian rule. In an attempt to appoint Chiefs, the Anglo-Egyptian administration, decided to consult with those who spoke similar languages known as Athook to advise the authority on how to appoint executive Chiefs in the Aweil Area. Chief Ungechdit was appointed due to his merits and by virtue of his services to the Anglo-Egyptian administration, as Chief to non-Dinka speakers, notably the Lou or Jurchol, in 1922. Aken Akec could have been the first Aweil chief, but he decided to recommend other people he knew to chieftainship positions and disregarded himself as a sign of selflessness, a virtue embraced in the entire Dinka land. Surprised by this act, the Anglo-Egyptian administrator asked Aken Akec as to why he recommended others to the positions of chiefs and denied himself a position. Aken Akec simply said “I would be responsible for all Chiefs”. The Anglo-Egyptian Administration was angered by his actions and decided to abandon him. Chak-Chak, who was then an old man of about 80 years old made some recommendations to some Chiefs, notably Ngor Makuel, the grandfather of Chief Pio Tem Kuac. Ngor Makeul was spiritual leader in Duluiet and was married to Chak-Chak’s sister-in-law, Athieng Makuac, a half sister to Chak Chak’s wife. Atheing Makuac was from the Pakuein Clan. The rest of the chiefs, except that of the Paliet Area, (who were not yet part of Aweil until 1933), were also appointed or transferred, either on abdications in favour of other clans, or through recommendations. Akol Kuot Akol known as Akol-agakier from the Pakuein clan was the spiritual leader of Paliet. Although Akol-agakier was in contact with Chak-Chak and Aken Akec, his appointment to become Chief of Paliet, notably Ajak, Kongdier and Bouncuai, was not done through recommendation to chieftainship position on the basis of Athook but was primarily by virtue of his standing as a spiritual leader. He was a spiritual leader and thus, when the need arose for the appointment of the executive chief of the south part of Aweil, (which was actually part of the Gogrial until 1933 when it finally became part of Aweil), he was appointed to become chief of the area. Malek-Alel, which later became the Capital of Paliet, lies 22 miles south of Aweil town and 47 miles away from Gograil town. It was thought that since Paliet was closer to Aweil than Gogrial town, it was worthwhile to make it a part of Aweil. That is how Paliet was moved out of Gogrial to Aweil. In 1933 Aweil was finally made to constitute four major areas, of Abiem, Malual, Paliet and Palueipiny, all of which comprised 22 Executive Chiefs. There are new SPLM/A appointed Chiefs, but they will stay outside of this writing, until there is stability in the Country.--

Geography

Situated in South Sudan's Bahr el Ghazal region, Northern Bahr el Ghazal occupies a majority of a region that is characterized by grassland floodplains and tropical savanna that make up around 33,559 km2, extending outward into neighboring Western Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap. Each county is divided into three geographical areas of different ground and water height. These areas are locally referred to as low-, middle-, or highlands - though there are actually no highlands in the state. The lowlands are only accessible during the dry season because annually, from May through November, the areas are flooded. Each county also has their own intermittent rivers that locals use for drinking water.

The Lol River, which crosses the state, is a tributary of the Bahr al-Arab, flowing downstream from Unity, slicing westward through Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and ending in Western Bahr el Ghazal.

Hazards

Annual floods are common throughout Northern Bahr el Ghazal, affecting residential areas. In 2008, a flood in Aweil South County displaced 40,000 people. In 2010, a flood took out 70% of livestock and crops in Aweil South County and Aweil West County; in Aweil, around 60% was destroyed. Thousands of people were greatly affected by the flood in 2010.

Government

Retired Gen. Salva Chol Ayat was the last Acting governor of the state. He replaced Kuel Aguer Kuel in April 2015. The incumbent governor is Hon. Tong Aken Ngor.

Administration

Northern Bahr al Ghazal, like other states in South Sudan, is divided into counties; there are five counties, headed by a County Commissioner, as detailed below:

The counties are further divided into Payams, then Bomas.

Infrastructure

By 2009, accessibility of Northern Bahr al Ghazal had been greatly improved. In 2007, the reconstruction of roads and bridges began. All county headquarters across the state were connected by all-weather roads with the exception of Aroyo, then the capital of Aweil Center County. In 2019, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations announced a project to develop multi-purpose water infrastructure in Koum. It is the lowest developed region of the entire globe according to the HDI.

References

Books

• Francis M. Deng, 1995, War of Visions, Conflict of Identities in the Sudan, (Washington D.C.: Brookings)
• Human Rights Watch, 1999, Famine in Sudan, 1998, The Human Rights Causes, (New York, Human Rights Watch).
• Dave Eggers, 2006, What is the What, (New York, Vintage Books).
• David Keen, 1994, The Benefits of Famine, A Political Economy of Famine and Relief in Southwestern Sudan, 1983–1989, (New Jersey, Princeton University Press).
• Garang Malong, 2012, Theatre of Hope (Nairobi University, Kenya)
• Aweil graduates network (2013)

References

1. "South Sudan: States and counties".
2. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab".
3. "Northern Bahr El Ghazal".
4. (23 September 2012). "In pictures: The life of a nurse in South Sudan". bbcnews.com.
5. (2010). "STATE REPORT NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL". International Organization for Migration.
6. "Thousands affected by flooding in Aweil".
7. [http://www.unsudanig.org/library/mapcatalogue/south/data/population/SS_0041_Population_Total_County_A4_20091229_300_1.pdf 2008 South Sudan Population Ma By County]