Aweil, South Sudan

Aweil is a city in South Sudan and the capital of the Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

Aweil

Mading Aweil
City
Aerial photo of Aweil (2007). The area has undergone significant development in the following years.
Nickname(s): 
Americateen
Aweil
Location in South Sudan
Coordinates: 08°46′02″N 27°23′59″E
Country South Sudan
StateNorthern Bahr el Ghazal
CountyAweil Centre County
Government
 • State GovernorGen. Akot Deng Akot
Elevation
425 m (1,394 ft)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total33,537
ClimateAw

Location

Aweil is located in Aweil Centre County, Aweil State,[1] in northwestern South Sudan, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan and the Abyei Region. This location lies approximately 800 kilometres (500 mi), by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country.[2] The coordinates of Aweil are: 8° 46' 02.00"N, 27° 23' 59.00"E (Latitude: 8.7671; Longitude: 27.3998).

Overview

Aweil is the capital city of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. It is also the county seat of Aweil Centre County. The city's infrastructure is relatively developed. Aweil now has a functioning railway station, hotel, airport, soccer stadium, and a public hospital. The city functions as a team site for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Several NGOs providing aid in South Sudan are based here.

The topography is flat and is prone to flooding, although the city itself lies on higher ground that the surrounding plains.[3] The city lies close to the confluence of the Lol River with the Pongo River. The average elevation of the city of Aweil is about 425 metres (1,394 ft) above sea level.[4] During the rainy season, the plain-dwellers seek refuge on higher ground in the city of Aweil.

Socially and economically vibrant, Aweil is one of the most peaceful cities within South Sudan's Ten States. Peace within the region has provided an economic boost, secondly most Aweilians remain unaffected by political decision making, they no longer have issues with cattle raiding and ethnic or tribal violence.

Demographic

The population of the Aweil city fluctuates. During the dry season, the population is lower as the plain-dwellers return to the plains to tend to their gardens and harvest their crops. When the rains come and the plains flood, they return to the city, to escape the raging waters. In November 2008, Médecins Sans Frontières estimated the town's population at about 100,000, but there is no verified population figure.[5]

Transport
Aweil tar-mac road that runs and circles Aweil from Aweil East border to Koum. The road was built in 2010 in the governing time of Paul Malong as governor of Aweil

Aweil has a railway station on the line to Wau built in the 1960s. After a period of disuse due to civil war damage, the line and the station were restored to use in 2010. The railway passes through Aweil South County to Wau. Aweil is served by Aweil Airport to Juba. In 2012 the local airline stopped flying.

Governance

The last Governor of the Northern Bhar el Ghazal State was Chol Tong Ayat. The Commissioner of Aweil Centre County is Deng Dhieu Nyiwel. The Mayor of the city of Aweil is Madam Nyibol Ajonga.

Cathedral

Aweil is also the seat of an Anglican Diocese. Bishop Abraham Nhial is the Bishop of the Diocese of Aweil and the Cathedral is Holy Trinity Cathedral in Aweil, a medium-sized building of brick contraction in the typical cross floorplan common to many churches in Africa.

Points of interest
Aweil teak plantation which is found in southern Aweil, west to the railway that runs to Wau

The following points of interest are found in or near Aweil:

  • The headquarters of Aweil State Administration
  • The headquarters of Aweil Centre County Administration
  • The teak plantation is planted in southern Aweil town, to the west of a railway that runs to wau; rumours circulating the city that the scheme belongs to Paul Malong Awan, the scheme is founded in 2016, for production of electricity-poles.
  • The women market was built in Hai-Salaam (Block of Peace) which lies to north-east of Aweil, in 2017 by UNDP prior to economic development and stabilisation programme which aims to address the multi-dimensional needs of people in the region.[6]
  • The offices of Aweil Town Council
  • South Sudan Hotel - A private hospitality establishment
  • Aweil Railway Station
  • Aweil Airport
  • Aweil Civil Hospital - One of the only three (3) referral hospitals in South Sudan
  • St. George Catholic Church - A place of worship
  • Aweil Rice Scheme
  • Aweil Soccer Field
  • University of Northern Bahr El-Ghazal
  • St. Mary's Girls Secondary School - A secondary school for girls, owned and administered by the Aweil Dioceses of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS)[7]
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See also

Notable people

References
  1. Additional Counties Established In Aweil East
  2. "Distance between Juba () (Airport) and Uwayl (Shamal Bahr al Ghazal) (Sudan)". distancecalculator.globefeed.com.
  3. "Floods swamp south Sudan region". 1 September 2010 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. Charter, International Air. "Aweil Airport, Sudan". www.internationalaircharter.com.
  5. Estimated Population of Aweil In November 2008 Archived October 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  6. UNDP builds women market in Hai-Salaam
  7. "St. Mary Girls School - Sudan Sunrise".

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