Fangak County is an administrative area in
Jonglei State
Jonglei State is a state of South Sudan with Bor as its centre of government and the biggest city. Jonglei state comprises nine counties: Bor, Akobo, Ayod, Uror, Duk, Nyirol, Pigi, Twic East, and Fangak. Jonglei State is the largest st ...
,
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 Republic, Democratic Republic of the ...
, with headquarters in the town of
Phom el Zaraf.
Location
The county is located between
Koch County in
Unity State
Unity State, also known as Western Upper Nile, is a state in South Sudan. Unity state is in the Greater Upper Nile region. Unity is inhabited predominantly by two ethnic groups: the Nuer majority, and the Dinka minority.
In 2015, a president ...
in the South-West,
Guit County in
Unity State
Unity State, also known as Western Upper Nile, is a state in South Sudan. Unity state is in the Greater Upper Nile region. Unity is inhabited predominantly by two ethnic groups: the Nuer majority, and the Dinka minority.
In 2015, a president ...
to the west,
Ayod County
Ayod County (or Yod County) is an administrative area in Jonglei State, South Sudan, with headquarters in Ayod. Its inhabited by Gawaar Nuer categorically composed by major clans of Chieng- Kapel, Bhaang, Chieng -Thony, Chieng - Nyadakuon, Jithiep ...
to the south,
Piji County to the east,
Panyikang County
Panykang is a county in the Upper Nile State, 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, ...
of
Upper Nile State
Upper Nile is a state in South Sudan. The White Nile flowes through the state, giving it its name. The state also shares a similar name with the region of Greater Upper Nile, of which it was part along with the states of Unity and Jonglei. It ...
in the northeast, and
Ruweng County in the north.
Phom el Zaraf town, the county headquarters, lies where the
Bahr el Zeraf enters the
White Nile from the east.
[
The Zeraf island, in which the town of Old Fangak is located, comprises a large part of the county. The island, much of which is within the ]Block 5A
Block 5A is an oil concession in South Sudan.
After oil field development began during the Second Sudanese Civil War, Block 5A was the scene of extensive fighting as rival militias struggled for control.
Out of an original population of 240,000, a ...
oilfield, is between the White Nile, or Bahr el Jebel, to the west and the Bahr el Zeraf to the east.
People
The 2008 census estimated that the population of the county was 110,130.
Most of the inhabitants of Fangak County belong to the Laak and Thiang sections of the Nuer people.
The people are agro-pastoralist, growing crops for personal use and for sale by traditional agricultural techniques and raising cattle.
Cattle are central to the culture, exchanged in marriages, and provide milk, meat and hides.[
]
Security issues
In February 2011, forces loyal to the rebel General George Athor
George Athor Deng (1962 – 19 December 2011) was the Sudan People's Liberation Army lieutenant general and a SPLA dissident who led the South Sudan Democratic Movement and its military wing, the South Sudan Defence Army. He was also an indep ...
attacked three operational outposts of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). They briefly occupied the town of Fangak before withdrawing when SPLA troops arrived. Several people died in the conflict.
Later the SPLA reported that at least 105 people had been killed, mostly women and children.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, called for immediate implementation of the January ceasefire agreement.
In June 2011 James Maluit Ruach, Commissioner of Fangak County, said that the security situation was under control but that Athor's forces had sown land mines, which urgently needed to be cleared.
References
{{Jonglei
Counties of Jonglei State