Equatoria is a region of southern South Sudan, along the upper reaches of the

White Nile The White Nile ( ar, النيل الأبيض ') is a river in Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile, the other being the Blue Nile. The name comes from the clay sediment carried in the water that changes the water to a pale color. ...

. Originally a province of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, it also contained most of northern parts of present-day Uganda, including Lake Albert and West Nile. It was an idealistic effort to create a model state in the interior of Africa that never consisted of more than a handful of adventurers and soldiers in isolated outposts. Equatoria was established by Samuel Baker in 1870. Charles George Gordon took over as governor in 1874, followed by

Emin Pasha 185px, Schnitzer in 1875 Mehmed Emin Pasha (born Isaak Eduard Schnitzer, baptized Eduard Carl Oscar Theodor Schnitzer; March 28, 1840 – October 23, 1892) was an Ottoman physician of German Jewish origin, naturalist, and governor of the Egyp ...

in 1878. The Mahdist Revolt put an end to Equatoria as an Egyptian outpost in 1889. Later British Governors included

Martin Willoughby Parr Martin Willoughby Parr CBE (22 November 1892 – 15 June 1985), CBE (1944, OBE 1929), was a governor of the British-administered province of Equatoria in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Early life Martin Parr was the son of the Rev. Willoughby Chase P ...

. Important settlements in Equatoria included Lado, Gondokoro, Dufile and

Wadelai Wadelai was a boma at a narrow point on the Albert Nile in what is now northern Uganda. There were several shortlived colonial stations there, the first being the final chief station of Emin Pasha when Governor of Equatoria. Wadelai gives its na ...

. The last two parts of Equatoria, Lake Albert and West Nile are now situated in Uganda. Under Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, most of Equatoria became one of the eight original provinces. The region of Bahr el Ghazal was split from Equatoria in 1948. In 1976, Equatoria was further split into the provinces of East and

West Equatoria Western Equatoria is a state in South Sudan. It has an area of . Its capital is Yambio. The state was divided into counties, each headed by a County Commissioner. Western Equatoria seceded from Sudan as part of the Republic of South Sudan on ...

. The region has been troubled with violence during both the

First First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

and Second Sudanese Civil Wars, as well as the anti-Ugandan insurgencies based in

Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...

, such as the Lord's Resistance Army and West Nile Bank Front.

Geography

Administrative divisions

Equatoria consists of the following states: *

Central Equatoria Central Equatoria is a state in South Sudan. With an area of , 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 s ...

* Eastern Equatoria *

Western Equatoria Western Equatoria is a state in South Sudan. It has an area of . Its capital is Yambio. The state was divided into counties, each headed by a County Commissioner. Western Equatoria seceded from Sudan as part of the Republic of South Sudan on ...

Between October 2015 and February 2020, Equatoria consisted of the following states: * Amadi State * Gbudwe State *

Maridi State Maridi State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was formed on 2 October 2015 from Western Equatoria state. It was located in the Equatoria region. Maridi State bordered the states of Amadi State ...

Tambura State Tambura was a state in South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African R ...

Imatong State Imatong State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Equatoria region and it bordered Yei River to the southwest, Jubek to the west, Terekeka and Jonglei to the northwest, Boma ...

* Torit State *

Kapoeta State Kapoeta State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Equatoria region and it bordered Imatong to the west, Boma to the north, Ethiopia to the east, and Kenya and Uganda ...

* Jubek State *

Terekeka State Terekeka State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Equatoria region and it bordered Amadi, Eastern Lakes, Imatong, Jonglei, and Jubek. It has an estimated population of 176, ...

* Yei River State

People

The people of Equatoria are traditionally peasants or nomads belonging to numerous ethnic groups. They live in the counties of Budi, Ezo, Juba, Kajo-keji, Kapoeta,

Magwi Magwi is a town in South Sudan Location The town is located in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State in southern South Sudan, near the border with the Republic of Uganda. Magwi, where the county headquarters are located, lies approximately , nort ...

Maridi Maridi is a town in South Sudan. Location Maridi is located in Maridi County, Western Equatoria State, near the international border between South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This location lies approximately , by road, west of ...

Lainya Lainya is a county in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan.Terekeka Terekeka is a community in Central Equatoria, South Sudan. It is the headquarters of Terekeka County.Torit,

Yambio Yambio is a City in South Sudan. Location The City is located in Yambio County, Western Equatoria State, in southwestern South Sudan, close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its location lies approximately , by road, west of ...

, and Yei. Equatoria is inhabited by the ethnolinguistic groups listed below. The following tribes occupy the three states of Greater Equatoria: Acholi, Avukaya,

Baka Baka, baká or BAKA may refer to: Ethnicities and languages * Baka people (Cameroon and Gabon), an African ethnic group * Baka people (Congo and South Sudan), an African ethnic group * Baka language, a dialect cluster of Cameroon and Gabon * Baka ...

, Balanda,

Bari Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy a ...

, Didinga, Kakwa, Keliko, Kuku, Lango, Lokoya, Narim, Lopit,

Lugbwara The Lugbara are a Central Sudanic ethnic group who live mainly in the West Nile region of Uganda, in the adjoining area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and few in South Sudan. They speak the Lugbara language, a Central Sudanic langu ...

, Lulubo, Madi, Makaraka or Adio, Moru, Mundari, Mundu, Nyangbwara, Otuho, Pari, Pojulu,

Tenet A tenet is a synonym for axiom, one of the principles on which a belief or theory is based. Tenet may also refer to: Media * Tenet (band), a heavy metal band * TENET (ensemble), an American early music vocal and instrumental group * ''Tenet'' (f ...

, Toposa and Azande

Avukaya Avukaya is an ethnic group of South Sudan. Some members of this ethnic have fled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to persecution. About 50,000 members of this ethnic group live in South Sudan. Many members of this ethnic group belong t ...

Mundu. Some of these tribes like Bari, Pojulu, Kuku, Kakwa, Mundari and Nyangbwara share a common language, but their accents, and some adjectives and nouns do vary; the same applies to Keliko, Moru and Madi.

Languages

Other than Arabic or (Arabi Juba) and English, the following languages are spoken in Equatoria according to ''

Ethnologue ''Ethnologue: Languages of the World'' (stylized as ''Ethnoloɠue'') is an annual reference publication in print and online that provides statistics and other information on the living languages of the world. It is the world's most comprehensiv ...

''. *'' Nilotic languages'' **'' Eastern'' ***

Acholi language Acholi (also Leb Acoli, or Leb Lwo) is a Southern Luo dialect spoken by the Acholi people in the districts of Gulu District, Gulu, Kitgum and Pader District, Pader (a region known as Acholiland) in northern Uganda. It is also spoken in South S ...

*** Lango language ***

Lokoya language Lokoya is an Eastern Nilotic language spoken by an estimated 12,400 people in South Sudan. It is also referred to by various other names, including Ellyria, Koyo, Loirya, Ohoromok, Lokoiya, Lokoja, Loquia, Lowoi, Oirya, Owoi, and Oxoriok. Classi ...

***

Lopit language The Lopit language is an Eastern Nilotic languages, Eastern Nilotic language spoken by around 100,000 people in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan. Lopit is part of the Lotuko-Teso subfamily and is related to Lotuko language, Lotuko, Turkana lang ...

***

Otuho language Otuho, also known as Lotuko (Lotuxo), is the language of the Otuho people. It is an Eastern Nilotic language, and has several other Otuho speaking dialectic groups. Language varieties Dongotono is related. Other related varieties may be: *Logir ...

***

Toposa language Toposa (also Akara, Kare, Kumi, Taposa, Topotha) is a Nilo-Saharan language (Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic) spoken in South Sudan by the Toposa people. Mutually intelligible language varieties include Jiye of South Sudan, Nyangatom of Ethiopia, Kari ...

*''

Surmic languages The Surmic languages are a branch of the Eastern Sudanic language family. Today, the various peoples who speak Surmic languages make their living in a variety of ways, including nomadic herders, settled farmers, and slash and burn farmers. Th ...

'' ** Didinga language **

Kacipo-Balesi language The Baale language, Baleesi or Baalesi is a Surmic language spoken by the Baale or Zilmamo people of Ethiopia, and by the Kichepo people, Kachepo of South Sudan.Dimmendaal, Gerrit. 2002. "Sociolinguistic Survey Report on Tirma, Chai, Baale, and ...

** Narim language **

Tennet language Tennet is a Surmic language spoken by the Tennet people in South Sudan. The Tennet home area is a group of fifteen (15) villages at the northern part of Eastern Equatoria state, 65 kilometers northeast of Torit. Distribution Tennet is spoken in ...

***

Päri language Päri, or Lokoro, is a Luo language of South Sudan. Päri has been claimed to have ergative alignment, which is rare-to-nonexistent in African languages, although recent descriptions of the language have instead described the case system as mar ...

**'' Western'' *** Bari language *** Balanda Bongo language ***

Mundari language Mundari (Munɖari) is a Munda language of the Austroasiatic language family spoken by the Munda tribes in eastern Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. It is closely related to Santali. Mundari Bani, a script specifically to wr ...

***

Dongotono language Dongotono (Dongotono pronunciation: /dóŋòtónò/) is an Eastern Nilotic language spoken by an estimated 5,000 people in South Sudan. Classification Dongotono has been classified as a member of the Eastern Nilotic branch of Nilotic, in the E ...

*** Jur language *** Kakwa language *'' Moru-Madi languages'' **

Ma’di language Ma'di (pronounced ) is a Central Sudanic language found in Uganda and South Sudan. It is one of the Moru–Madi languages. The Madi people refer to their language as ''Ma'di ti'', literally "Ma'di mouth". The Ma'di people are found in Magwi Co ...

Beli language Beli is a Torricelli language of Papua New Guinea. It is also known as ''Akuwagel, Makarim, Mukili''. It is spoken in Mukili (), Makapim () , and other villages of Maimai Wanwan Rural LLG in Nuku District, Sandaun Province Sandaun Province ...

Keliko language Keliko (Kaliko) is a Central Sudanic languages, Central Sudanic language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. Omi language, Omi was once considered a dialect. Locations A 2013 survey reported that ethnic Keliko reside in the ...

Moru language Moru is a Central Sudanic language spoken in South Sudan by the Moru people. Dialects are Agi, Andri, ’Bali’ba, Kadiro, also known as Lakama’di, Miza and Moruwa’di. Demographics A 2013 survey reported that ethnic Moro (Moru) reside in K ...

Lugbara language Lugbara, or Lugbarati, is the language of the Lugbara people. It is spoken in the West Nile sub-region, West Nile region in northwestern Uganda, as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Orientale Province. Classification and dialects Th ...

** Olu’bo language *'' Bongo-Bagirmi languages'' ** Jur Modo language ** Mo’da language **

Morokodo language Morokodo is a dialect continuum of Central Sudanic languages spoken in South Sudan. Although there are 50,000 speakers of Morokodo, there are only 3,400 native speakers worldwide. There is a scarce amount of printed material of the endangered la ...

Nyamusa-Molo language Morokodo is a dialect continuum of Central Sudanic languages spoken in South Sudan. Although there are 50,000 speakers of Morokodo, there are only 3,400 native speakers worldwide. There is a scarce amount of printed material of the endangered l ...

*'' Adamawa–Ubangi languages a branch of the Bantu family'' ** Makaraka or Adio language ** Zande language **

Avukaya language Avokaya (also spelled ''Abukeia'', ''Avukaya'', or, in Arabic script, ) is a Central Sudanic language spoken in southern South Sudan and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Demographics Avokaya speakers occupy a contiguous area along both ...

Baka Language Baka (also called ''Be-bayaga, Be-bayaka,'' and ''Bibaya de L’est'') is a dialect cluster of Ubangian languages spoken by the Baka (Cameroon and Gabon), Baka Pygmies of Cameroon and Gabon. The people are ethnically close to the Aka people, Aka ...

Boguru language The Guru language, or ''Boguru'', is a poorly documented South Sudanese Bantu language of uncertain affiliation (though listed as unclassified Zone D.30 by Guthrie). For a while, a number of speakers were refugees in DR Congo The Democra ...

** Ndogo language

Culture and music

Due to the many years of the civil war, the Equatorian culture is heavily influenced by the countries neighboring Equatoria and hosting Equatorians. Many Equatorians fled to Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, The Democratic Republic of the Congo,

The Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of the ...

, United States, Canada, United Kingdom,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

and Europe, where they interacted with the nationals and learnt their languages and culture. For most of those who remained in the country, or went North to

and Egypt, they greatly assimilated Arabic culture. Most Equatorians kept the core of their culture even while in

exile Exile is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons and peoples suf ...

and

diaspora A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of origin. Historically, the word was used first in reference to the dispersion of Greeks in the Hellenic world, and later Jews after ...

. Traditionally, culture is highly upheld and a great focus is given to knowing one's origin and dialect. Although the common languages spoken in Equatoria are Juba Arabic/Arabi Juba and English,

Lingala Lingala (Ngala) (Lingala: ''Lingála'') is a Bantu language spoken in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the northern half of the Republic of the Congo, in their capitals, Kinshasa and Brazzaville, and to a lesser degree in ...

and Kiswahili is being introduced to the population to improve the country's relations with its

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...

n neighbors. Many music artists from Equatoria use English, Lingala, Kiswahili, Arabi Juba (Arabic Creole), their language or dialect or a mix of all. Popular artists sing Afro-beat, R&B, and zouk. Dynamiq is popular for his reggae.

Early history

In the 19th century, Egypt had control of Sudan and established the Equatoria province to further control its interests over the Nile River. Equatoria was established by British explorer

Sir Samuel Baker Sir Samuel White Baker, KCB, FRS, FRGS (8 June 1821 – 30 December 1893) was an English explorer, officer, naturalist, big game hunter, engineer, writer and abolitionist. He also held the titles of Pasha and Major-General in the Ottoman ...

in 1870. Baker was sent by Egyptian authorities to establish trading posts along the

and Gondokoro (''Gondu kuru'', means "difficult to dig", in

), a trading center located on the east bank of the White Nile in Southern Sudan. Gondokoro was an important center since it was located within a few kilometres from the cutoff point of navigability of the Nile from Khartoum. It is presently located near the city of Juba in Equatoria. Equatoria Flying Flag

Baker's attempt to create additional trading posts and control Equatoria was unsuccessful because villages surrounding Gondokoro were frequently bypassed by Arab invaders who wanted to impose their culture and way of life on the people. King

Gbudwe Gbudwe Bazingbi (c.1835, also called Yambio) was the Azande King in South Sudan from 1870–1905. His real name was Mbio, which means "a kind of small antelope", but he renamed himself "Gbudwe", also written as Gbudue, meaning "to tear out ...

who ruled Western part of Equatoria at the time as The King of Azande Kingdom despised the Arab culture and way of life and encouraged the tribes to resist the invaders and protect their African culture and their way of life. The invaders were met with such stiff resistance from Equatorian tribes such as the Azande,

, Lokoya,

Otuho The Otuho people, also known as the Lotuko or Latuka, are a Nilotic ethnic group whose traditional home is the Eastern Equatoria state of South Sudan. some of their villages are Oronyo, Oudo, Angario, Tirangore, Hiyala, Obira, Abalua, illieu, Ifwo ...

, and Pari. At the end of Baker's service as governor, British general Charles George Gordon was appointed governor of Sudan. Gordon took over in 1874 and administered the region until 1876. He was more successful in creating additional trading posts in the area. In 1876, Gordon's views clashed with those of the Egyptian governor of Khartoum forcing him to go back to London. In 1878 Gordon was succeeded by the Chief Medical Officer of the Equatoria province, Mehemet Emin, popularly known as Emin Pasha. Emin made his headquarters at Lado (now in South Sudan). Emin Pasha had little influence over the area because the Khartoum governor was uninterested in his development proposals for the Equatoria region. In 1881, Muhammad Ahmad Abdullah, a Muslim religious leader, proclaimed himself the Mahdi ("expected one") and began a holy war to unify the tribes of Western and Central Sudan, including Equatoria. By 1883 the Mahdists had cut off outside communications. However, Emin Pasha managed to request assistance from Britain via

Buganda Buganda is a Bantu peoples, Bantu kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Baganda, Baganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day East Africa, consisting of Buganda's Districts of Uganda, Central Region, inclu ...

. The British sent a relief expedition, called the "Advance," in February 1887 to rescue Emin. The Advance navigated up the Congo River and then through the Ituri Forest, one of the most difficult forest routes in Africa, resulting in the loss of two-thirds of the expedition's personnel. While the Advance succeeded in reaching Emin Pasha by February of the following year, the Mahdists had already overrun the bulk of the province, and Emin had already been deposed as governor by his officers in August 1887. The Advance reached the coast, with Emin, by the end of the year, by which point the Mahdists were firmly in control of Equatoria. In 1898, the Mahdist state was overthrown by the Anglo Egyptian force led by British

Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

Lord Kitchener. Sudan was proclaimed a condominium under British-Egyptian administration and Equatoria was administered by the British.

British policy

Equatoria received little attention from the British prior to World War I. Equatoria was closed to outside influences and developed along indigenous lines. As a result, the region remained isolated and underdeveloped. Limited social services to the region were provided by Christian missionaries who opened schools and medical clinics. The education provided by the missionaries was mainly limited to learning English language and arithmetic.

Equatoria and Sudanese independence

In February 1953, the United Kingdom and Egypt reached an agreement providing for Sudanese self-government and self-determination. On January 1, 1956 Sudan gained independence from the British and Egyptian governments. The new state was under the control of the Arab led Khartoum government. The Arab Khartoum government had promised Southerners full participation in the political system, however, after independence the Khartoum government reneged on its promises. Southerners were denied participation in free elections and marginalized from political power. The government actions created resentment in the South that led to a mutiny by a group of Equatorians sparking the 21 year civil war (1955–1972, 1983 to 2004).

Equatoria Corps

Equatorians played an instrumental role in the struggle for autonomy in South Sudan. The origins of Sudan's civil war dates back to 1955, a year before independence, when it became clear the Arabs were going to take over the national government in Khartoum. Equatoria gave its name to the southernmost unit of the British

Sudan Defence Force The Sudan Defence Force (SDF) was a locally recruited British-led force formed in 1925 to assist the police in the event of civil unrest, and to maintain the borders of British administered Sudan. During the Second World War, it also served bey ...

, formed during the Anglo-Egyptian administration. This was the Equatoria or Southern Corps. On August 18, 1955, No. 2 Company of the Equatoria Corps mutinied at Torit, Eastern Equatoria.; Robert O. Collins, Civil wars and revolution in the Sudan: essays on the Sudan, 2005, p.140 No. 2 Company had been ordered to make ready to move to the north, but instead of obeying, the troops mutinied, along with other Southern soldiers across the South in Juba, Yei, Yambio, and

. The Khartoum government sent other

units to quell the rebellion and many mutineers of the Equatoria Corps went into hiding rather than surrender. This marked the beginning of the first civil war in southern Sudan. The rebellion that emerged from the Equatoria Corps was later called Anya Nya and the leaders were separatists, who demanded the creation of a separate South Sudan nation, free from Arab domination. The Equatorian leaders of the Anya Nya and founders of the struggle were Rev. Fr Saturnino Ohure was of Lotuho origin, who was the first man said to have fired a bullet, and launched the start of the first civil war, in Torit; Fr.

Saturnino Lohure Saturnino Ohure Hilangi, or Saturnino Lohure (c. 1921 – 22 January 1967) was a Roman Catholic priest and a politician who played an important role in the early movement for secession of South Sudan. Saturnino Ohure was of Lotuho origin. He w ...

from Otuho;

Aggrey Jaden Aggrey Jaden Ladu (1924, 1927, or 1928 — 1985 or 1987) was a South Sudanese politician, Biography Aggrey Jaden Ladu is from the Pojulu ethnic group, known for promoting the independence of South Sudan from Sudan. He was born in Loka village ...

from Pojulu; Joseph Ohide from Otuho; Marko Rume from Kuku;

Ezboni Mondiri Ezboni Mondiri Gwanza was a politician in Southern Sudan. He was one of the founders of the Southern Sudan Federal Party (SSFP) in 1957, which competed in the Sudanese parliamentary election in 1958. Later he was active in secessionist movements. ...

from Moru; Albino Tombe from Lokoya; Tafeng Lodongi from Otuho; Lazaru Mutek from Otuho;

Benjamin Loki Benjamin Lwoki was a politician from South Sudan who was an early activist in the movement for autonomy or independence from Sudan. He was also a former minister of public works-( Sudan), the first South Sudanese politician in the Sudanese cabinet. ...

from Pojulu; Elia Lupe from Kakwa; Elia Kuzee from Zande;Timon Boro from Moru; Dominic Dabi Manango, from Zande; Alison Monani Magaya, from Zande; Isaiah Paul, from Zande; Dominic Kassiano Dombo, from Zande; and many others. The Khartoum government sent its forces to arrest the rebels and capture anyone who supported their cause. By the early 1960s civilians believed to be Anya Nya sympathizers were arrested and shipped to Kodok concentration camp where they were tortured and killed. Some of the first detainees and survivors of the horrific torture at Kodok include Emmanuel Lukudu and Philip Lomodong Lako. By 1969 the Equatorian rebels found support among foreign governments and were able to obtained weapons and supplies. Anya Nya recruits were trained in Israel where they also got some of their weapons. The Anya Nya rebels received financial assistance from Southern Sudanese and Southern exiles from the Middle East, Western Europe, and North America. By the late 1960s, the war had resulted in the deaths of half a million people and several hundred thousand southerners escaped to hide in the forests or to refugee camps in neighboring countries. Anya Nya controlled the southern countryside while the government forces controlled the major towns in the region. The Anya Nya rebels were small in number and scattered all over the region making their operations ineffective. It is estimated that Anya Nya rebels ranged from 5,000 to 10,000 in number. On May 25, 1969, Col Gaafar Muhammed Nimeiri led a military coup and overthrew Gen. Ibrahim Abboud's regime. In 1971 Joseph Lagu, from the Madi ethnic group, became the leader of the southern forces opposed to Khartoum government and founded the South Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM). Anya Nya leaders united and rallied behind Lagu. Lagu also got support for his movement from exiled southern politicians. With Lagu's leadership the SSLM created a governing infrastructure throughout many areas in southern Sudan. In 1972 Nimeri held negotiations with the Anya Nya at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At the talks the Anya Nya demanded a separate southern government and an army to defend the south. Ethiopia's Emperor Haile Selassie moderated the talks and helped the two sides reach an agreement. The result was the Addis Ababa Agreement. The Addis Ababa Accords granted autonomy for the South with three provinces: Equatoria, Bar al Ghazal and Upper Nile. The south would have a regional president appointed by the national president to oversee all aspects of government in the region. The national government would maintain authority over defense, foreign affairs, currency, and finance, and economic and social planning, and interregional concerns. The members of the Anya Nya would be incorporated into the Sudanese army and have equal status with the northern forces. The accord declared Arabic as Sudan 's official language and English as the south's principal language for administration and schooling. Despite opposition from SSLM leaders on the terms of the Agreement, Joseph Lagu approved the agreement and both sides agreed to a cease-fire. The Addis Ababa Accords were signed on March 27, 1972 and the Sudanese celebrated that day as National Unity Day. This agreement resulted in a hiatus in the Sudanese civil war from 1972 to 1983.

Recent history

In 1983, President Gaafar Nimeiry abolished the parliament and embarked on a campaign to Islamize all of Sudan. He outlawed political parties and enacted Sharia law in the penal code. Non-Muslim southerners were now forced to obey Islamic laws and traditions. The policies revived southern opposition and military insurgency in the South. In 1985

Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab Abdel Rahman Suwar al-Dahab (otherwise known as Suwar al-Dahab or al-Dahab; 1934 – 18 October 2018) ( ar, عبد الرحمن سوار الذهب) was the President of Sudan from 6 April 1985, to 6 May 1986. His full name has also been listed ...

led a coup and overthrew the regime. In 1986, Sadiq al-Mahdi was elected president of Sudan. The new regime began negotiations led by Colonel

John Garang de Mabior John Garang de Mabior (June 23, 1945 – July 30, 2005) was a Sudanese politician and revolutionary leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) after the Second Sudanese Civil War, the comprehensive peace agreeme ...

, the leader of the Sala, but failed to reach an agreement to end the southern insurgency. Civil war has continued since then, but international pressure has led SPLA and the Khartoum government to reach an agreement to end the 21-year civil war. In January 2020, the National Alliance for Democracy and Freedom Action (NADAFA) sought to join talks in Rome seeking to resolve political rifts within South Sudan. The group is a coalition of holdout political groups including the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), which was not signatory to the peace agreement signed by President Salva Kiir’s South Sudanese government in 2018. NADAFA sought a power-sharing arrangement in the new national government, with "People’s Constitutional Conventions" held in Equatoria, Upper Nile and Bahr al Ghazal. In September 2020, Sudans Post published a message from Dr. Hakim Dario, the leader of NADAFA, expressing concern that the new nation had been named "South Sudan" and proposed that the nation should be called "Equatoria Federal Republic". On February 9, 2022, the Azande community in Yambio held a coronation ceremony for King Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue. The traditional royal title was last held by King Rikito's great-grandfather King Gbudue, who died in 1905. Some neighboring cultural groups such as the Maridi and Balanda people wrote letters to the new king, warning him that they would not be subjects to the restored kingdom, with the Maridi letter specifically rejecting any ethnic political divisions, saying "We stand to promote the Republic of South Sudan, not the culture of a specific group.” However, Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa, the king's brother, stated that the new king will not participate in politics. “It’s purely promotion of our culture and its preservation and heritage, not political.”

Notable Equatorians

* Samuel Baker Founder/1st. Governor of Equatoria 1870-74 * Charles Gordon 2nd Governor of Equatoria 1874-76 *King

The Azande King 1800's-1905 *King His Majesty Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue Current restored Azande Kingdom's King on February 09th, 2022 * Saturnino Ohure 1st. Equatorian to shot gun at the Arabs 1955 * Joseph Oduho * Joseph Lagu *Elia Kuzee * Joseph James Tombura *

*Alison Monani Magaya *Peter Cirillo *Isaah Paul *

Oliver Batali Albino Oliver Batali Albino (11 November 1935 – 4 January 2020), also sometimes referred to as Oliver Albino Batali, was a South Sudanese politician and civil servant. Background Oliver Albino was born on 11 November 1935 in Yei, South Sudan. He was ...

Samson L. Kwaje Samson Lukare Kwaje (July 23, 1945 - August 1, 2010) was a South Sudanese politician and civil servant. Background Samson Kwaje was a senior member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement's Political Bureau, the highest political organ of th ...

Cirino Hiteng Ofuho Dr. Cirino Hiteng Ofuho is a South Sudanese politician and former civil servant. Background Dr. Cirino Hiteng holds an MA and Ph.D. in International Relations from universities in Kenya and the United Kingdom. In the Transitional Government of Na ...

Beatrice Wani-Noah Beatrice Khamisa Wani-Noah (born 28 July 1959) is a South Sudanese politician who served as minister of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation from 2020 to 2021. Early life and education Wani-Noah was born on the 28 of July 1959 in Morobo ...

* Elias Taban, Bishop, founder of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sudan *Hakim Dario Founder Equatoria Peoples' Alliance (EPA)

References

* R. Gray, ''A History of the Southern Sudan, 1839–1889'' (London, 1961). * Iain R. Smith, ''The Emin Pasha Relief Expedition 1886–1890'' (Oxford University Press, 1972). * Alice Moore-Harell, ''Egypt's African Empire: Samuel Baker, Charles Gordon and the Creation of Equatoria'' (Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, 2010).

External links

Equatorians AbroadVideo of Equatorians Abroad
{{Coord, 4, 52, N, 31, 35, E, source:ptwiki_scale:100000, display=title Regions of South Sudan History of Sudan 19th century in Egypt Historical regions