# Central Equatoria

Central Equatoria is a state in South Sudan. With an area of 43,033 square kilometres (16,615 sq mi), it is the smallest of the original South Sudanese states. Its previous name was Bahr al-Jabal (also Bahr-el-Jebel), named after a tributary of the White Nile that flows through the state. It was renamed Central Equatoria in the first Interim Legislative Assembly on 1 April 2005 under the government of Southern Sudan. Central Equatoria seceded from Sudan as part of the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011. The state's capital, Juba, is also the national capital of South Sudan. On October 2, 2015, the state was split into three states: Jubek, Terekeka, and Yei River. The state of Central Equatoria was re-established by a peace agreement signed on 22 February 2020.

## Administrative divisions

Central Equatoria, like other states in South Sudan, is subdivided into counties, which are further divided into Payams, then Bomas. Each county is led by a County Commissioner, appointed by the State Governor in consultation with the President. They are:
* Juba County
* Lainya County
* Morobo County
* Terekeka County
* Yei River County
* Kajo Keji County
* major cities and towns of central equatoria
Juba, Kajo Keji, Liria, Mongalla, Wonduruba, Rokon, Tali, Terekeka, Yei, Ji-Menze, Tombek, Tindilo, Kaya, Muni, Morobo, and Rijong. The major border crossing to the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo is at Dimo, a village in the state.

## Demographics

Major tribes of Central Equatoria have included the Bari, Mandari, Pojulu, Kakwa, Keliko, Kuku, Lugbara, Avukaya, Baka, Nyangwara, Adio, and Lulubo. Minor tribes have included the Nyepo in Northern Kajo Keji County and the Lokoya along the Nimule Road. Erasto Gonda, Senior Folklore Officer for Central Equatoria's information ministry, further detailed the State's demographics:
   In terms of tribes in Central Equatoria, we have Mundari of Terekeka County, the Pojulu of Lainya, Wonduruba and Tijor counties combined, and the Bari of Juba County, who are the largest. Then we have the Kuku from Kajok Keji County, Nyangwara from Rokon area – then we have the Kakwa, from Yei County and Morobo, then there is the Keliko from Morobo County, the Avokaya, Mundo and Baka from Tore Payam of Yei County. Additionally, there are the Pojulu-Tijor who are near Tali.
   So, these tribes are the eight tribes who speak one language with slight differences, Kutuk, although they all have different traditional dances. Mundari language for example has its own notion tone different from Bari but they also speak Bari at the same time because some of the border the Bari to the north of Juba, although there are differences in some of the words. Some of the tribes like Avokaya of Yei County, Lugbara and Keliko of Morobo speak one language with slight differences except Mundo and Baka which speak different languages. But they all also have their special languages, called their ‘Kobura’ which the others do not understand. It is a hidden language, they speak it during danger.
   They are all from one family but got separated because of land, the land was not enough. They were at first were pastoralists, and then diverged as pastoralists and agriculturalists.
   Then there is also the Direr or Nubi, these people are a collection of tribes and their religion is Islam. They settled together in two main places, Malakia in Juba and Bombo which is near Kampala in Uganda. They are united by their religion, which came to them in the 1940s. They now consider themselves to be a new tribe.
   The agriculturalists out of these are the Bari,Kuku, the Kakwa, Avokaya, Mundo, Pojulu, Lokoya, Lulubo, Nyangwara, Keliko, Nyepo. They grow a variety of crops, including maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, 'bolot or sorghum, millet, groundnuts, beans.cow peas, yams These tribes have two crops to harvest every year, the first in June or July and the second in November or December. They also keep small number of cattle, goats, and sheep and keep poultry, duck and pigeons.

## Culture and languages

Due to the South Sudanese Civil War, the state's culture was heavily influenced by the countries neighboring South Sudan. Many South Sudanese fled to Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, where they interacted with the nationals and learned their languages and culture. Most of those who remained in the country or went north to Sudan and Egypt assimilated into Arab culture.
It is also worth noting that most South Sudanese diaspore kept the core of their culture even while in exile. Traditional culture is highly held and great attention is given to knowing one's origin and dialect. Although the common languages spoken are Juba Arabic and English, Swahili began to be introduced to the population to improve the country's relations with its East African neighbors. Many people from Central Equatoria use English, Kiswahili, Juba Arabic, their dialect, or a mixture of the languages mentioned.

## Government

Directly before Central Equatoria split up into three separate states in 2015, the government was as shown:
* Governor – Juma Ali Malou
* Deputy Governor – Sarah Nene Redento

## Advisors

* Angelo Daya Loku, peace and security (SSOA)
* David Wani, Economic affairs (IO)
* Jacob Gore Samuel, Legal Affairs (IG)
* JeniferYobu, Human Rights (IG)
* Mariam A. Zachariah, Fever and social welfare (IG)

## Ministers

* Hon. Wayi Godwin Edward, Minister of Cabinet Affairs (IO)
* Hon. Moro Isaac Geneios, Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement (SSOA)
* Hon. Gerald Francis Nyukuye, Minister of Peace Building (IG)
* Hon. Taban Emmanuel Baya, Minister of parliamentary and Legal Affairs (IO)
* Hon. Andruga Mabe Severio, Minister of Information and Communication (OPP)
* Hon. Rita Dominic Lado, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (IG)
* Hon. Diana Susu Hassan, Minister of Finance, Planning, and Investment ( IG)
* Hon. Wani Tom Sebit, Minister of Trade and Industry (IG)
* Hon. Lily Kufuki Paul, Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Forestry (SSOA)
* Hon. Alex Latio Elia, Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries and Tourism (IG)
* Hon Peter Lujo Yospeta, Minister of Cooperative and Rural Development (IO)
* Hon. Flora Gabriel Modi, Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities (IG)
* Hon. Mawa A. Moses, Minister of Roads and Bridges (IG)
* Hon. Modi John Molla, Minister of Labor, public services and Human Resource (IG)
* Hon. Nejua Marsha, Minister of Heath (IG)
* Hon. Cirisio Zachariah, Minister of General Education and Instruction (IO)
* Hon. Bullen Soro Amos, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare (IG)

## Independent Commissions

* George Wani Elia, Anti- corruption (IO) deputized by Kenyi Abiaso
* Asio Moses John, employees justice chamber (IO) deputized by Huda Michael Laila
* Marino Michael Sebit, HIV/AIDS (SSOA)
* Felix Lado Johnson, PRC (IG) deputized by Amal Suleiman
* Isaac Wuri Eluni, Human Rights (IG) deputized by Emmanuel kose Wani (IO)
* Henry Kala Sabuni, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (IG) deputized by Amule Barnabas Lemi

## County commissioners

* Hon. Charles Joseph Wani, Juba County (SSOS)
* Hon. Aggrey Cyrus, Yei River County (IG)
* Hon. Joseph Mawa, Morobo County(IG)
* Hon. James Lino Malou Anok, Terekeka County (IO)
* Hon. Emmauel Khamis Richard, Lainya County (IG)
* Hon. Kenyi Erasto Michael, Kajo Keji County (IO)