South Kordofan

South Kordofan جنوب كردفان Janub Kurdufan
State
Coordinates: 11°8′N 29°53′E / 11.133°N 29.883°ECoordinates: 11°8′N 29°53′E / 11.133°N 29.883°E
Country	Sudan
Region	Kordofan
Capital	Kaduqli
Government
• Governor	Adam Al-Faki Mohamed al-Tayeb
Area
• Total	158,355 km^2 (61,141 sq mi)
Population (2006 (est.))
• Total	1,111,859
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

A view of Abyei from a UN helicopter.

South Kordofan (Arabic: جنوب كردفان‎ Ğanūb Kurdufān) is one of the 18 wilayat or provinces of Sudan. It has an area of 158,355 km²^[1] and an estimated population of approximately 1,100,000 people (2000).^[2] Kaduqli is the capital of the state. It is centered on the Nuba Hills. Because South Kordofan is the only state in (North) Sudan that is producing oil, the ethnic Nubans who live there are being targeted by the northern military.^[3]

Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, residents of South Kordofan were to hold popular consultations in 2011 to determine the constitutional future of the state. However, South Kordofan governor Ahmed Haroun suspended the process and violence followed.^[4] Haroun had previously been charged with war crimes against civilians and crime against humanity by the International Criminal Court.

History

Although South Kordofan is part of (North) Sudan, it is home to many pro South Sudan communities, especially in the Nuba Mountains, some of whom fought alongside southern rebels during the long civil war.^[5]

In 2009 and 2010 a series of conflicts between rival nomadic tribes in South Kordofan caused a large number of casualties and displaced thousands.

On June 6, 2011 armed conflict broke out between the forces of Northern and Southern Sudan, ahead of the scheduled independence of the South on July 9. This followed an agreement for both sides to withdraw from Abyei.^[6][7] On June 20, the parties agreed to demilitarize the contested area of Abyei where Ethiopian peacekeepers will be deployed.^[8]

Districts of Southern Kordofan

Districts of South Kurdufan

1. Dilling District
2. Rashad District
3. Abu Jubaiyah District
4. Talodi District
5. Kadugli District

Cities and towns of Southern Kordofan

• Kaduqli (capital)

See also

• Kurdufan - overall region
• Eyes and Ears Of God – Video surveillance of Sudan - documentary film

References

1. Sources disagree on the size of the state. The government of Sudan lists the area as 970,470 km², Statoids as 158,355 and the International Crisis Group as "about 120,000 sq. km" PDF (1.19 MB) (p. 1)
2. South Kordofan State, Sudan Ministry of the Cabinet Affairs, 22 July 2008
3. Interview with Abdel Aziz Adam Al Hilu (commander of SPLA in Nuba mountains), 18 June 2011, by Tomo Križnar
4. Martell, Peter (2011-06-20). "BBC News - Is Sudan heading for an acrimonious divorce?". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
5. "BBC News - Sudan's South Kordofan: 'Huge suffering from bombs'". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
6. Archived June 29, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
7. "BBC News - Sudan: Barack Obama calls for ceasefire". Bbc.co.uk. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
8. Archived June 29, 2011 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• The Nuba Mountains Homepage