Juba

Juba is the capital and largest city of South Sudan. It sits along the White Nile and also serves as the capital of the Central Equatoria State. With a population of 525,953 in 2017, it is the youngest declared national capital in the world.

The city was founded between 1920 and 1921 by the Church Missionary Society in a small village of the Bari people, also named Juba. In the late 1920s, it became the capital of Mongalla Province. The city's growth sped up after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in 2005, making Juba the capital of the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan.

When South Sudan became independent in 2011, Juba was chosen as its capital. Some leaders had preferred Ramciel to be the capital, and the government announced plans to move the capital there, but this change has not yet happened.

History

Juba has a long and interesting history. Under the rule of Egypt, it was a small military post. Explorers used a nearby island as a base for their trips into the area.

The modern city of Juba began in 1920 when a school was built there. In the late 1920s, officials decided to build a new town there to be the capital of a region. Traders and merchants helped build many of the early buildings.

Juba became the capital of South Sudan when the country became independent in 2011. Even though some leaders wanted to move the capital to a new city, Juba is still the capital today. Sadly, the city has seen many conflicts and challenges, including wars and explosions, but it remains an important place for the country.

Government

Juba is led by a city council, which was formed in March 2011. The council was set up by Governor Clement Wani Konga, who chose Mohammed El Haj Baballa to be the mayor and David Lokonga Moses to be the deputy mayor. A special group was also created to help keep the city clean.

Many important public services for South Sudan are based in Juba, but they have been busy since the country became independent. There are also local leaders chosen by different community groups to help manage parts of the city. By late 2017, some of these official groups were no longer active, and more informal ways of governing became common. The city also has many armed groups present.

Transportation

Juba is an important place for travel, sitting on the White Nile river. Before a big conflict, many roads left the city to connect to nearby countries like Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

After the conflict ended, Juba has struggled to get back to how it was before. The roads and river port are broken and not used much anymore. Groups like the United Nations and the South Sudanese government are working to fix the roads, but it will take a long time. In the past, work began to clear roads to Uganda and Kenya, but progress is slow because of rainy weather.

Plans were made between 2008 and 2011 for a train link from Juba to Gulu in Uganda, with possible connections to other places. Juba International Airport is busy with flights bringing help and people to South Sudan. Flights go to cities like Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, and Wau Airport in South Sudan. The United Nations also has a big area near the airport.

Demographics

In 2005, Juba had a population of about 163,000 people. By 2006, this number was thought to be around 250,000. In 2008, a census said the population of Juba County was 372,413, but this was not accepted by the government of Southern Sudan. In 2011, the city's population was again estimated at around 372,000, and by 2013, the city was growing quickly. Some leaders believe the population is now over one million, including many people moving into the city from nearby areas looking for jobs.

Economy

After South Sudan became independent in 2011, Juba grew quickly. Many merchants from Sudan and East Africa came to the city, hoping for good business. Several big banks, like the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and Kenya Commercial Bank, opened branches in Juba. Local banks such as Buffalo Commercial Bank, Ivory Bank, and Nile Commercial Bank also started there. Even with challenges from the civil war in December 2013, Juba kept growing, especially with new homes and hotels being built. Many traders visit Juba just to sell quickly and leave, rather than staying long-term. Since 2005, China has helped Juba with healthcare and small businesses.

Roads

Juba has important roads that connect it to major towns in South Sudan. One of these roads is the Juba-Nimule road, and another is the Aggrey Jaden Road. You can see more roads listed in the table below.

Food

Juba has many tasty foods that people enjoy. One popular dish is Kisra, a flatbread made from sorghum or maize flour, usually eaten with soup or stew. Another favorite is Bamia, a yummy stew with okra, tomatoes, onions, and meat.

There is also Ful Medames, a breakfast made from mashed fava beans mixed with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Asida is a porridge made from sorghum flour and served with meat or vegetable stew. Malakwang is a special stew with leafy greens, peanuts, butter, and meat. And Ugali, a maize porridge, is often enjoyed with stews or soups.

Education

Juba has several important schools and universities. The University of Juba began in 1975. The Juba Public Peace Library opened on October 1, 2019, and it was the first public library in South Sudan, with over 13,000 books. Other universities in Juba include Upper Nile University, Kampala International University, Catholic University of South Sudan, Episcopal University of South Sudan, Starford International University, and Ayii University.

Health services

Juba has several important hospitals and health centers that help take care of people. These include Juba Teaching Hospital, Juba Military Referral Hospital, Al Sabah Children's Hospital, and several primary health care centers like Nyakurun PHCC, Munuki PHCC, and Gurei PHCC. These facilities work together to provide medical care to the community.

Places of worship

Juba has many places where people can worship, mostly Christian churches and temples. These include the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, which is part of the Catholic Church, the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan linked to the Anglican Communion, the Baptist Convention of South Sudan connected to the Baptist World Alliance, and the Presbyterian Church in Sudan which belongs to the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

Climate

Juba has a tropical wet and dry climate, meaning it has hot temperatures all year. From November to March, there is very little rain and it can get very hot, with temperatures reaching 38 °C (100 °F) in February. From April to October, there is a lot of rain, with more than 100 mm (3.9 in) falling each month. The city gets almost 1,000 mm (39 in) of rain each year.

Notable people

Juba is home to many interesting people. Aheu Deng is a beauty queen and fashion model. Bangs is a rapper and YouTube personality. Mangok Mathiang, born in 1992, is an Australian-Sudanese basketball player who plays for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association. Emmanuel Jambo is a photographer. Independent Moses Nunuh was the first child born in South Sudan after the country became independent.