Juba

Juba is the capital and largest city of South Sudan. It is located along the White Nile and is also the capital of the Central Equatoria State.

The city was founded between 1920 and 1921 by the Church Missionary Society in a small village of the Bari people, which was also named Juba. In the late 1920s, it became the capital of Mongalla Province. The city's growth increased 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 wanted Ramciel to be the capital, and the government announced plans to move the capital there, but this change has not happened yet.

History

Juba has a long and interesting history. Long ago, when Egypt ruled the area, it was just a small military post. Explorers used a nearby island as a base for their trips.

The modern city of Juba started 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 the region. Traders and merchants helped build many of the first 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, but it remains an important place for the country.

Government

Juba is led by a city council, formed in March 2011. Governor Clement Wani Konga chose Mohammed El Haj Baballa as mayor and David Lokonga Moses as deputy mayor. A special group was made to help keep the city clean.

Many important public services for South Sudan are in Juba. The city also has leaders chosen by different community groups. By late 2017, some of these groups were not active anymore, 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, Juba is working to fix its roads and river port. Groups like the United Nations and the South Sudanese government are helping, but it will take time. In the past, work started to clear roads to Uganda and Kenya, but progress is slow because of rainy weather.

Plans were made for a train link from Juba to Gulu in Uganda. 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 about 163,000 people. By 2006, the number was thought to be around 250,000. In 2008, a count said the people in Juba County were 372,413, but the Southern Sudan government did not agree with this. In 2011, Juba's population was again about 372,000. By 2013, the city was growing fast. Some leaders think the population is now over one million, with many people moving in from nearby areas for jobs.

Economy

After South Sudan became independent in 2011, Juba grew quickly. Merchants from Sudan and East Africa came to the city for business. 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 with new homes and hotels. Many traders visit Juba to sell and then leave. 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. Two of these roads are the Juba-Nimule road and the Aggrey Jaden Road. You can see more roads 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 many important schools and universities. The University of Juba started in 1975. The Juba Public Peace Library opened on October 1, 2019. It was the first public library in South Sudan, and it has many 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 important hospitals and health centers that help people stay healthy. 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 places work together to give 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. The weather is hot all year. From November to March, there is 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) each month. The city gets almost 1,000 mm (39 in) of rain each year.

Notable people

Juba has 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.