Malakal

The city of Malakal is located in Malakal County, Eastern Nile State,[1] in the northeast of 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]

Historically, Malakal was known as maarakal a word derived from jieng language meaning "the lost calf ". The Malakal town started as a tiny village which later expanded into a big town becoming the capital city of the 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]

The Upper Nile University was founded in 1991.[6]

Malakal mosque

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 Convention of South Sudan (Baptist World Alliance), Presbyterian Church in Sudan (World Communion of Reformed Churches).[7] There are also Muslim mosques.

Malakal has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh).

Post office of Malakal, South Sudan in 2011

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.[9] 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.

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.

As of 2005 the population of Malakal was estimated at about 129,620.[10] The 2008 Sudanese census, which was boycotted by the South Sudanese government, recorded a population of about 126,500.[11] 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.[12] Below is a table depicting the estimated population of the city from 1983 until 2010 from all sources:

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  Malakal town
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  Malakal center
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  Malakal locals, 1936
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  Trucks of the Force Publique (Belgian-Congolese colonial army) parked at Malakal during World War II
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  Kenya Commercial Bank in Malakal town
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• Upper Nile (state)
• Greater Upper Nile
• List of cities in South Sudan

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.