Juba, Sudan
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Juba is the regional capital of Southern Sudan and the capital of the Sudanese state of Central Equatoria.
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[edit] Population
In 2005 its population was 163,442.
Development of Population:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1973 (census) | 56,737 |
| 1983 (census) | 83,787 |
| 1993 (census) | 114,980 |
| 2005 (calculation) | 163,442 |
[edit] History
British hopes to join the southern part of Sudan with Uganda were dashed in 1947 by an agreement in Juba, also known as the Juba Conference, to unify northern and southern Sudan. In 1955, a mutiny of southern soldiers in the city 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.
In 2005, Juba was handed over to the Sudanese People's Liberation Army. The city serves as the permanent regional capital of Southern Sudan, although the interim capital was Rumbek.
[edit] Infrastructure
The city is a river port and the southern terminus of traffic along the River Nile. It is also a transportation hub, with highways connecting it to Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Because of the war this 'transportation hub' isn't working anymore. Roads and harbour are not in use now. This is because of the civil war, which ended after 20 years in January 2005. Now the UN is repairing the roads, because during the war all the roads have been demolished, by bombs or by heavy rain. The Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) has started in 2003 to clear the roads leading from Juba to Uganda and Kenya. It is expected that these roads can be completely demined and rebuilt in the course of 2006. The rebuilding of the roads (highway is a big word) takes a lot of work, because in the rainy season they can't work on them. From November till February is the dry season. They have started to rebuild the road to Uganda, because many of the original habitants of Juba fled to Uganda during the war. The roads are important for the peace process, people need them to return to their homes, to pick up 'daily life' again.
As of 2006, there is only one paved road in Juba. This is a concrete road, built by the English in the fifties. The rebuilding of Juba is in full process now. Walta Information Center reported that Ethiopian Airlines would begin flights to Juba three times a week in September 2006.
The city is the location of the University of Juba.
[edit] External links
