Sudan Vision Daily News Paper Official Website - Facts About Eastern Equatoria State

By: James Lemor , This administrative entity came into existence in April 1994 as a result of Presidential decree number 10, for implementation of the federal system of rule adopted in the Sudan.

Before this new status, Eastern Equatoria was a province carved out of the former Equatoria province in 1974 and was comprised of the two districts of Kapoeta and Torit. These two districts were created in 1934. Torit district was made up of the old districts of Teretenya and Opari whose status of district was abolished in 1934. Opari was the district administrative headquarters' for the Madi and Acholi people. Eastern Equatoria State today includes four localities: Kapoeta, Chukudum, Imotong and Magwi. Its capital is Kapoeta, which is also the headquarters of Kapoeta locality. Currently it is located in Torit, the provincial capital of Imotong temporarily. Kapoeta is about 190 miles east of Juba, the present capital of Bahr Al Jebel state and is only accessible by flights. There are fifteen tribes whose home is Eastern Equatoria state. In Kapeota province live the Toposa, Gie and Nyangathom. Didinga, Dodos and Boya are found in Chukudum. In Imotong province are found the Otuho, the Lopit, the Lango, Pari who are also known as Lokoro, and Tenet who inhabit a portion of Lopit hills after they split from Didinga and Murle early in 19th century and Lokoya of Lowoi. In Magwi province live the Acholi, Madi, Iriye and Ofiriha tribes. Eastern Equatoria state is a Sudanese gateway to Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Most of the Eastern Equatoria's inhabitants are pastoralists. They rear cattle, sheep and goats in addition to their primary occupation, subsistence farming. Some portions of the crops are sent to markets, and the rest are consumed locally. The Didinga hills in Chukudum province are best known for their fertile and rich soil for cultivation of tobacco, Irish potatoes, maize, and Dura. Kapeota province is a potential territory for sheep-rearing on a large commercial scale for production of mutton and sheepskins. There is also a promising future for cattle rearing for beef and hides on commercial scale in both Kapeota and Imotong provinces. The population of Magwi mainly practice agriculture and keep a small portion of ruminants (goats, sheep, chickens and so on) and there is a great potential to plant cash crops such as Irish potatoes, coffee, tea and maize. Fishery is another potential production area found in Magwi province. About forty-five miles of Bahr Al Jebel River inside Sudanese territory runs through Eastern Equatoria state from Nimule to its confluence with Umo River. There is also fishing ground in Lafon among the Pari ponds where the Hos river flooding ends in small scale. Eastern Equatoria state has richly forested areas, found in Katire, Imotong, and Kalisoni in Magwi provinces respectively. Game reserves and animal parks are also found in Eastern Equatoria state in both Imotong and Magwi in the areas of Gordon hills on Juba-Nimule road, Loti valley and Tingili area between Liria and Lafon administrative units. Further Eastern Equatoria is pregnant with very many natural mineral resources such as oil in Lafon administrative unit, white wash, and gold in Kapoeta and Kit on Juba-Nimule road and others remain untapped or not yet exploited. Potential tourism sites are located in Upper Talanga, Katire, and Fulla Rapids. Fulla Rapids is also the most striking feature on the Nile and lies about 6 miles north of Nimule. It is believed to be a ready natural gift for the production of hydro-electricity for most of Sudan.