Unity (state)
Encyclopedia
Unity, sometimes known as Western Upper Nile, is one of the 10 states of the African nation of South Sudan
. It has an area of 35,956 km². Unity, is inhabited predominantly by two ethnic groups, the Nuer (majority) and the Dinka (minority).
.
Prior to an administrative reorganization in 1994, Unity was part of a much larger province of Upper Nile, and the state is still sometimes called Western Upper Nile.
Its counties are Mayom
, Rubkona
, Panrieng, Leer
, Guit, Koch
, Abiemnom
, Mayendit, and Payinjiar.
The larger towns are Bentiu
, Mayom
, Leer
and Adok
.
Other towns are Riangnhom, Rub-Koni, Yoynyang, Tam, Mankien
, Wang-Kay, Koch
, Nyal and Ganyiel.
who engage in both agriculture and rearing of livestock, especially cattle. Farming is conducted during the rainy season although some cultivation also occurs during summer. Vegetables are not widely cultivated as most farmers are rural rather than urban, and therefore lack access to markets for their produce. Some NGOs are introducing farmers to the practice of cultivation for market.
and most of Block 5A
.
Sudan's first oil reserves
were discovered here during the 1970s. The international oil companies which engaged in oil exploration contributed to massive displacement of the indigenous population.
The Unity oilfield is situated within the largest hydrocarbon accumulation in the Muglad rift basin
and contains an estimated 150000000 barrels (23,848,094,250 l) of oil. The Greater Nile Oil Pipeline
begins in the Unity oil field.
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
. It has an area of 35,956 km². Unity, is inhabited predominantly by two ethnic groups, the Nuer (majority) and the Dinka (minority).
Administrative divisions
The capital of Unity state is BentiuBentiu
-Location:Bentiu is located in Rubkona County, Unity State, in northern South Sudan, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan. This location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. Bentiu sits on the southern banks of the Bahr...
.
Prior to an administrative reorganization in 1994, Unity was part of a much larger province of Upper Nile, and the state is still sometimes called Western Upper Nile.
Its counties are Mayom
Mayom County
Mayom County is an administrative region in Unity State of South Sudan to the west of Bentiu. The county headquarters is Mayom town.-Location:Mayom County is in the northwest of Unity State.The largest town is Mayom...
, Rubkona
Rubkona County
Rubkona County is an administrative division of Unity State, South Sudan.The administrative center is the town of Rubkona, across the Bahr el Ghazal River from the state capital Bentiu and the town of Yoynyang, which are also in Rubkona County...
, Panrieng, Leer
Leer County
Leer County is an administrative division of Unity State in South Sudan. The headquarters are in the town of Leer.In December 2009 that traffic police had established road blocks along the road between Payinjiar and Leer and were demanded high bribes from travelers who wanted to pass.In March 2011...
, Guit, Koch
Koch County
Koch County is an administrative division of Unity State, South Sudan, covering an area in the center of the state.The administrative center is the town of Koch.Large villages include Dhor Wang, Thorial, Duar, Wath-Thier and Bieh....
, Abiemnom
Abiemnom County
Abiemnom County is an administrative area in the extreme northeast of Unity State, South Sudan. It borders Southern Kordofan in Sudan to the north.The main ethnic group are the Nuer, with a Dinka minority....
, Mayendit, and Payinjiar.
The larger towns are Bentiu
Bentiu
-Location:Bentiu is located in Rubkona County, Unity State, in northern South Sudan, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan. This location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. Bentiu sits on the southern banks of the Bahr...
, Mayom
Mayom, South Sudan
Mayom is a community in Unity State of South Sudan to the west of Bentiu. It is the headquarters of Mayom County.-Location:Mayom was a major cattle trading center in Western Upper Nile , in Bul Nuer territory....
, Leer
Leer, South Sudan
Leer is a small town in Unity State in South Sudan. It is the headquarters of Leer County.-Location:Leer is in Dok Nuer territory.It is located in Block 5A, an important oil-producing area in the north of South Sudan....
and Adok
Adok
Adok is a port on the White Nile in Jonglei State, South Sudan.In the early 1980's Chevron Corporation found oil in Adok.Adok had strategic value during the Second Sudanese Civil War ....
.
Other towns are Riangnhom, Rub-Koni, Yoynyang, Tam, Mankien
Mankien
Mankien is a community in Unity state in South Sudan. With a key location near the oil fields, the town changed hands more than once during the Second Sudanese Civil War...
, Wang-Kay, Koch
Koch, South Sudan
Koch is a community in Unity State, South Sudan, headquarters of Koch County.The community lies in Jagei Nuer territory.It is within the Block 5A oil concession...
, Nyal and Ganyiel.
Economy
Agriculture is the state's primary economic activity. The people are nomadic agro-pastoralistsNomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
who engage in both agriculture and rearing of livestock, especially cattle. Farming is conducted during the rainy season although some cultivation also occurs during summer. Vegetables are not widely cultivated as most farmers are rural rather than urban, and therefore lack access to markets for their produce. Some NGOs are introducing farmers to the practice of cultivation for market.
Oil fields
The state is the location of some rich oilfields, including Unity oilfieldUnity oilfield
The Unity oil field is a major oil field in Unity State, South Sudan. It lies to the north of the state capital Bentiu in Rubkona County.The oil field, and the Heglig feld further north, were discovered by Chevron Corporation in 1982, and was to become one of the most productive fields in Sudan...
and most of Block 5A
Block 5A, South Sudan
Block 5A is an oil concession in South Sudan.After oil field development began during the Second Sudanese Civil War, Block 5A was the scene of extensive fighting as rival militias struggled for control....
.
Sudan's first oil reserves
Oil reserves
The total estimated amount of oil in an oil reservoir, including both producible and non-producible oil, is called oil in place. However, because of reservoir characteristics and limitations in petroleum extraction technologies, only a fraction of this oil can be brought to the surface, and it is...
were discovered here during the 1970s. The international oil companies which engaged in oil exploration contributed to massive displacement of the indigenous population.
The Unity oilfield is situated within the largest hydrocarbon accumulation in the Muglad rift basin
Muglad Basin
The Muglad Basin is a large rift basin in Northern Africa. The basin is situated within southern Sudan and covers an area of approximately 120,000 km2. It contains a number of hydrocarbon accumulations of various sizes, the largest of which are the Heglig and Unity oil fields...
and contains an estimated 150000000 barrels (23,848,094,250 l) of oil. The Greater Nile Oil Pipeline
Greater Nile Oil Pipeline
The Greater Nile Oil Pipeline is an important oil export pipeline in Sudan. It extends for approximately of which approximately 1.8 kilometres is submarine. It was constructed by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company and commenced operation in 1999...
begins in the Unity oil field.
External links
- USAID 2001, 'Sudan: Oil and gas concession holders' (map), University of Texas Library. (Map shows location of oil field. Note that state borders are out of date.)