Central Equatoria


Central Equatoria is a state in South Sudan. With an area of, it was 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 to its present name of Central Equatoria in the first Interim Legislative Assembly on 1 April 2005 under the 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 of Juba is also the national capital of South Sudan. The state split into Jubek, Terekeka, and Yei River states on 2 October 2015, but was re-established by a peace agreement signed on 22 February 2020.

Administrative divisions

Central Equatoria, like other states in South Sudan, was sub-divided into counties which are further divided into Payams, then Bomas. Each county is headed by a County Commissioner, appointed by the State Governor in consultation with the President. They are:
Important cities and towns of Central Equatoria are: Juba, Kajo Keji, Liria, Mongilla, Wonduruba, South Sudan Wonduruba, Rokon, Tali, Terkeke, Yei, Ji-Meje, Tombek, Tindilo, Kaya, Muni and Rijong, Bubudo. The major border crossing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is at Dimo, a village in the state.

Demographics

Major tribes of the state included Bari people, Pojulu, Kakwa, Keliko, Kuku, Lugbara, Avokaya, Baka, Nyangwara, Makaraka and Lulubo. Minor tribes included the Nyepo in Northern Kajok-Keji County and Lokoya along Nimule Road. Erasto Gonda, Senior Folklore Officer for Central Equatoria’s information ministry further detailed the State's demographics:

Music

Due to the many years of the civil war, the 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 learnt their languages and culture. For most of those who remained in the country, or went North to Sudan and Egypt, they greatly assimilated the Arab culture.
It is also worth noting that most South Sudanese kept the core of their culture even while in exile and diaspora. Traditional culture is highly upheld and a great focus is given to knowing one's origin and dialect. Although the common languages spoken are Arabi Juba and English, Kiswahili was being introduced to the population to improve the country's relations with its East African neighbors. Many musicians from Central Equatoria used English, Kiswahili, Arabi Juba, 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: