City in Greater Upper Nile, South Sudan
About Malakal
Malakal is a city in South Sudan, serving as the capital of Upper Nile State in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan, along the White Nile River. It also serves as the headquarter of Malakal County and it served as the headquarter of Upper Nile Region from the 1970s to the late 1990s.
History
Historically, Malakal was found by the Kuei's family and known as the former Sobat District. 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 (since 2020). 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 was the site of numerous battles between government SPLA forces and the Nuer White Army, loosely commanded by the SPLM-IO headed by Riek Machar. The city was overrun on various occasions by both sides. …
Geography
The city of Malakal is located along the White Nile, in upper Nile state, South Sudan, close to the International borders with the Republic of Sudan and with Ethiopia. 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 and largest city of South Sudan.
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. 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.
Population
As of 2005 the population of Malakal was estimated at 129,620. The 2008 Sudanese census, which was boycotted by the South Sudanese government, recorded a population of about 126,500. 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. Below is a table depicting the estimated population of the city from 1983 until 2010 from all sources:
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