Malakal
Malakal | |
|---|---|
 Malakal in August 2005 | |
  Malakal Location in South Sudan | |
| Coordinates: 09°33′00″N 31°39′00″E / 9.55000°N 31.65000°E | |
| Country |  South Sudan |
| State | Upper Nile State |
| County | Malakal County |
| Payam | Central Malakal and Southern Malakal |
| Elevation | 385 m (1,263 ft) |
| Population (2014 est) | |
| • Total | 147,450 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
Malakal is a city in South Sudan and the second largest city after the national capital Juba. And it is the capital of Upper Nile State, South Sudan, near the White Nile River. It also serves as the headquarters of makal county.
Geography[]
The city of Malakal is located in Malakal City ,[1] in upper Nile state, South Sudan, close to the International borders with the Republic of Sudan and with Ethiopia.[2] The town is located on the banks of the White Nile, just north of its confluence with the Sobat River.
This location lies approximately 650 kilometres (400 mi), by road, directly north of Juba, the capital of South Sudan and the largest city in that county.[3]
History[]
Historically, Malakal was known as the former sobat district which was then divided into Balliet and Akoka counties in the Eastern Bank of White Nile and Northern Sobat River. The Malakal town started as a tiny District administrative unit which later expanded into a big town becoming the capital city of the Upper Nile State. It was also the capital of the defunct Eastern Nile State and Central Upper Nile State During the Second Sudanese Civil War, the town was a garrison town of the Khartoum-based Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Following South Sudan's independence on 9 July 2011, the troops from the Republic of Sudan have retreated from Malakal. Malakal was the site of the November 2006 Battle of Malakal.
Beginning in 2013, Malakal has been the site of numerous battles between government SPLA forces and the Nuer White Army, loosely commanded by the SPLM-IO which is headed by Riek Machar. The city has been overrun on various occasions by both sides.[4] As of October 2015, Malakal had exchanged hands twelve times during the civil war, and was utterly destroyed in the process.[5]
Education[]
The Upper Nile University was founded in 1991.[2]
Places of worship[]
Among the places of worship, they are predominantly Christian churches and temples : Roman Catholic Diocese of Malakal (Catholic Church), Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (Anglican Communion), (Baptist World Alliance), Presbyterian Church in Sudan (World Communion of Reformed Churches).[6] There are also Muslim mosques.
Climate[]
Malakal has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh).
| hideClimate data for Malakal | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 41.7 (107.1) |
43.0 (109.4) |
44.4 (111.9) |
43.7 (110.7) |
42.5 (108.5) |
39.5 (103.1) |
38.0 (100.4) |
36.7 (98.1) |
37.8 (100.0) |
39.5 (103.1) |
40.0 (104.0) |
40.5 (104.9) |
44.4 (111.9) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 34.9 (94.8) |
36.8 (98.2) |
38.7 (101.7) |
38.8 (101.8) |
35.9 (96.6) |
33.1 (91.6) |
31.1 (88.0) |
30.9 (87.6) |
31.9 (89.4) |
33.6 (92.5) |
35.1 (95.2) |
35.0 (95.0) |
34.7 (94.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.7 (80.1) |
28.5 (83.3) |
30.9 (87.6) |
31.5 (88.7) |
29.8 (85.6) |
27.7 (81.9) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.9 (80.4) |
27.7 (81.9) |
27.5 (81.5) |
26.8 (80.2) |
28.1 (82.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 18.5 (65.3) |
20.1 (68.2) |
23.0 (73.4) |
24.2 (75.6) |
23.7 (74.7) |
22.4 (72.3) |
21.8 (71.2) |
21.7 (71.1) |
21.9 (71.4) |
21.9 (71.4) |
19.9 (67.8) |
18.6 (65.5) |
21.5 (70.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 11.4 (52.5) |
10.0 (50.0) |
16.4 (61.5) |
16.5 (61.7) |
17.5 (63.5) |
17.6 (63.7) |
17.0 (62.6) |
17.0 (62.6) |
18.0 (64.4) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
12.2 (54.0) |
10.0 (50.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.01) |
6.9 (0.27) |
19.9 (0.78) |
86.1 (3.39) |
103.4 (4.07) |
146.8 (5.78) |
163.4 (6.43) |
124.4 (4.90) |
75.6 (2.98) |
4.9 (0.19) |
0.0 (0.0) |
731.6 (28.80) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 7.0 | 10.0 | 13.9 | 14.9 | 10.9 | 7.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 68.0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 30 | 25 | 29 | 40 | 59 | 70 | 78 | 80 | 78 | 72 | 49 | 35 | 54 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 294.5 | 263.2 | 260.4 | 261.0 | 229.4 | 168.0 | 151.9 | 170.5 | 177.0 | 223.2 | 282.0 | 297.6 | 2,778.7 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 9.5 | 9.4 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 7.4 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 7.6 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 82 | 80 | 70 | 70 | 58 | 43 | 39 | 43 | 48 | 61 | 81 | 85 | 63 |
| Source: NOAA[7] | |||||||||||||
Transportation[]
A major road linking Malakal with the town of Kurmuk at the border with Ethiopia is under repairs and renovations to asphalt surface. The road is expected to be ready for commissioning by May 2013.[8] The city of Malakal is also served by Malakal International Airport, one of the two International airports in South Sudan, the other being Juba International Airport. Water traffic on the White Nile River can travel as far north as Khartoum in the Republic of Sudan, and as far south as Adok in Lakes State.
Newspapers[]
Malakal has very limited newspapers circulated in hardcopy form. However, the Juba-based 'Citizen' is widely read around the town. In the eve of Independence day on July 9, 2011, The Upper Nile Times online newspaper was launched. The website for this online digital newspaper is no longer active, with the domain name being available for purchase.
Population[]
As of 2005 the population of Malakal was estimated at about 129,620.[9] The 2008 Sudanese census, which was boycotted by the South Sudanese government, recorded a population of about 126,500.[10] However, those results are disputed by the authorities in Juba. In 2010, it was estimated that the population of Malakal had grown to about 139,450.[11] Below is a table depicting the estimated population of the city from 1983 until 2010 from all sources:
| Year | Population[11] |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 33,750 |
| 1993 | 72,000 |
| 2005 | 129,620 |
| 2008 | 126,500 |
| 2010 | 139,450 |
Gallery[]
Malakal town
Malakal center
Malakal locals, 1936
Trucks of the Force Publique (Belgian-Congolese colonial army) parked at Malakal during World War II
Kenya Commercial Bank in Malakal town
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "SHILLUK FIGHT FOR DINKA TAKE-OVER OF MALAKAL: S. SUDAN LEGISLATORS WARN OF WAR OVER LAND DISPUTES IN UPPER NILE STATE". Africans Press. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Britannica, Juba, britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019
- ^ "Distance between Juba () (Airport) and Malakal () (Airport) (Sudan)". Distancecalculator.globefeed.com. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
- ^ "South Sudan Troops Recapture Malakal From Rebels - News". The Wall Street Journal. 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
- ^ Franks, Tim (24 October 2015). "Malakal: The city that vanished in South Sudan". BBC News. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ Britannica, South Sudan, britannica.com, USA, accessed on September 8, 2019
- ^ "Malakal Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
- ^ "Contractors rush for South Sudan contracts - News". Theeastafrican.co.ke. 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
- ^ "Google Drive Viewer". Retrieved 2014-02-15.
- ^ "Malakal's water woes | The Window". Imeechan.com. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
- ^ Jump up to: a b [1][dead link]
External links[]
 |
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Malakal. |
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Malakal. |
- Location of Malkal At Google Maps
- Malakal Vocational Training Centre.
- The Gateway to the Shilluk People of Malakal.
| show Authority control  |
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- Malakal
- Populated places in Upper Nile (state)
- State capitals in South Sudan
- Sobat River
- Greater Upper Nile