Lafon County

Lafon is a county in Eastern Equatoria State of South Sudan[5] Before the reorganisation of states in 2015, it was a county of Eastern Equatoria. The largest town is Lafon.[6]

Lopa/Lafon County[1]
Lopa/Lafon County[4]
Location in South Sudan
Coordinates: 5.033234°N 32.469063°E / 5.033234; 32.469063
Country South Sudan
StateImatong State
Population
 (2009)
 • Total106,161
 • Summer (DST)+3GMT

Economy

As of 2007,most roads in the county were in poor conditions and movement was difficult in the rainy season. Water was shortage in the county due to lack of boreholes. Teachers and community health workers were not being paid. A household economy survey of three areas showed average daily cash income was at US$ 0.18 per person at Imehejek village, US$0.08 per person at Imotong village and US$0.16 per person at Hyala village.[7] In November 2011 the Commissioner of Lafon County, Caesar Oromo Urbano, said most boreholes in the area had collapsed, and with no skilled technicians to repair them there was an immediate risk of an acute shortage of drinking water.[8]

Most of the communities in Lafon County are farmers, and have a single cropping season. As of November 2009 they were facing severe food insecurity due to drought. Cattle rustling had increased as the people sought alternative food. There were no NGOs or UN agencies operating in the county.[9] However, the Norwegian People's Aid NGO has since been active in implementing Basic Package of Health services (MDTF-BPHS) in Lafon county in a program funded by the World Bank and the Government of South Sudan. This included training and provision of communications and transport.[10]

People

The main community is the Pari ethnic group.[11] The second largest community is Lopit, followed by Tennet and Lotuko people respectively.[12] As of May 2011 there was a dispute between the Lopit and Pari communities of Lafon County, with neither willing to accept a county commissioner from the other group. The Lopit preferred to have a commissioner and the Pari preferred two administrators. This forced Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore arbitrate the dispute by splitting the county into Imehejek and Lafon corridors in favor of peace.[13] The governor said he was pushing to divide the counties in the state into smaller but more homogeneous counties.[14]

Administration

In March 2009 the state Governor, Brigadier General Aloisio Ojetuk Emor, announced that Lafon/Lopa County had been officially renamed Lafon County in accordance with the wishes of the late SPLM leader, John Garang. He urged the communities to agree on their county headquarters.[12] In April 2011 the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) – Sudan Operations Centre invited submission of sealed bids for construction of the Lafon County Headquarters.[15]

Lafon county included many supporters of the National Congress. Despite this, in the January 2011 referendum Lafon was the only county in Eastern Equatoria that voted unanimously for separation.[16] Referendum results for Lafon had 71,708 for secession and none for unity. 8 ballots were invalid and 29 blank.[17]

References
  1. governor's office
  2. governor's office
  3. governor's office
  4. governor's office
  5. "Imatong: Speaker And Deputy Elected, Commissioners, Administrators Sworn In". Gurtong. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  6. "Sudan (the) Reference Map of Eastern Equatoria, Sudan - Topography". Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  7. Isaac Vuni (March 6, 2007). "NGOs advised to see Equatoria counties officials for RRP Implemention". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  8. Peter Lokale Nakimangole (17 November 2011). "Lafon County Wary Of Water Shortage". Gurtong. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  9. "Relief Response to Drought and Conflict Affected People – SDN092" (PDF). ACT. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  10. Aina Ostreng (2011-11-01). "Sudanese Deputy Governor hails NPA for good work". Norwegian People's Aid. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  11. "Village Assessment for the Potential Return Area (Lafon)" (PDF). UNHCR. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  12. Peter Lokale Nakimangole (9 March 2009). "Lafon County In Eastern Equatoria State Renamed Lafon County". Gurtong. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  13. governonr's opinion letter and decree
  14. "LOPIT- PARI COMMUNITY DISAGREEMENT NEEDS PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION". Sudan Catholic Radio. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  15. "Construction of Lafon County Headquarters at Ihemejek Payam in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan". United Nations Office for Project Services - UNOPS. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  16. "NCP MEMBERS VOTED FOR SEPARATION IN LAFON COUNTY". Sudan Catholic Radio Network. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  17. "Referendum results: Lafon". Southern Sudan Referendum Commission. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
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