Kafia Kingi

The Kafia Kingi (Arabic: كافيا كنجي‎) area is a mineral-rich region on the border between Sudan, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. It is disputed between South Sudan and Sudan.

Kafia Kingi كافيا كنجي
Kafia Kingi كافيا كنجي Location in South Sudan
Coordinates: 9.273123°N 24.417404°E / 9.273123; 24.417404
Country	Disputed
Area [1]
• Total	4,800 sq mi (12,500 km2)
Population
• Estimate  (2010)[1]	16,000
Time zone	GMT+3

The area was due to be given to South Sudan under the terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement which required use of the Sudan "north–south line" as of 1 January 1956.[1] It was not until 1960 that the Kafia Kingi area was transferred north of that line and added to Darfur. Sudan controls all or most of this area today, though at times since independence South Sudan forces have briefly controlled large portions.[2]

Almost all of Kafia Kingi (except a southern portion south of the Umblasha River) is within the borders of the Sudanese Radom National Park, a biosphere reserve, of which two-thirds are also within the borders of Kafia Kingi, while another one-third of the National Park is within the Sudanese region of South Darfur.

Warlord Joseph Kony is thought to be hiding in Kafia Kingi.[3]

The Kafia Kingi region is a known haven for ivory smugglers. Congolese ivory is frequently held in Kafia Kingi before being taken north into Darfur.[4]

1951 Sudan Survey Dept. and US Army Map Service map showing in detail the north–south line's location until 1960 on the northwest border of Kafia Kingi

1951 Sudan Survey Dept. and US Army Map Service map showing in detail the north–south line's location until 1960 on the north and northeast border of Kafia Kingi