Tonj is a city 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 Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...

Location

The city is located in ''Tonj South County'',

Warrap State Warrap (also spelled Warab), is a state in South Sudan located in the Bahr el Ghazal region. It has an area of 31,027 km². Overview Warrap State comprises an area of 31,027 km². Kuajok is the capital of Warrap state. All states in South Sudan ...

, in northwest

. Its location lies approximately , by road, northwest of

Juba Juba () is the capital and largest city of South Sudan. The city is situated on the White Nile and also serves as the capital of the Central Equatoria State. It is the world's newest capital city to be elevated as such, and had a populatio ...

, the capital and largest city in the country. It lies on the northwest bank of the

Tonj River The Tonj River, also called the Ibba River or Nyatt Ayok, is a river of South Sudan. It is a right tributary of the Bahr el Ghazal River. Course The Tonj River is a tributary of the Bahr el Ghazal River. The river originates in the south of the s ...

(or Ibba River). Tonj lies between

Rumbek Rumbek ( ar, رمبك) is the capital of Lakes State, central South Sudan, and the former capital of the country. Location Rumbek is approximately by road northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. Its coordinates are a ...

, approximately by road to the southeast, and Wau, approximately by road to the northwest. The coordinates of Tonj are: 7° 16' 48.00"N, 28° 40' 48.00"E (Latitude: 7.2800; Longitude: 28.6800). The average elevation of the town is approximately above sea level.

Overview

Tonj is a small but growing town in South Sudan's vast interior. Situated between two larger urban centers of

and Wau, the town is a significant transit point for road travellers. The town's airport has not yet attracted regular airline service. Tonj is the largest city in

, one of the ten (10) states that constitute

. The town and the county where it lies (''Tonj County''), are the ancestral home to the

Dinka The Dinka people ( din, Jiɛ̈ɛ̈ŋ) are a Nilotes, Nilotic ethnic group native to South Sudan with a sizable diaspora population abroad. The Dinka mostly live along the Nile, from Jonglei to Renk, South Sudan, Renk, in the region of Bahr el Gh ...

along with the Bongo ethnic groups, along with several smaller tribal groups. South Sudanese leader

William Deng Nhial William Deng Nhial (1929 - 5 May 1968) was the political leader of the Sudan African National Union, SANU, from 1962 to 1968. He was elected unopposed. He was one of founders of the Anya Nya Military Wing of the Liberation of Southern Sudan, fighti ...

was buried in Tonj.

Population

In 2010, it was estimated that the population of Tonj, South Sudan, was approximately 17,340.

Notable People

John Lee Tae-seok

South Korean Fr.

John Lee Tae-seok Father John Lee Tae-seok (October 17, 1962 – January 14, 2010) was a South Korean Catholic missionary priest, teacher, architect, doctor, and brass band conductor. Early life Tae-seok was born in the city of Busan. Tae-seok Lee (October 17 ...

worked as a Catholic missionary, priest, doctor, teacher and mentor to the people of Tonj. He worked at the

leper colony A leper colony, also known by many other names, is an isolated community for the quarantining and treatment of lepers, people suffering from leprosy. '' M. leprae'', the bacterium responsible for leprosy, is believed to have spread from East Af ...

. Lee Tae-seok was responsible for the introduction of a school, the

Don Bosco John Melchior Bosco ( it, Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco; pms, Gioann Melchior Bòsch; 16 August 181531 January 1888), popularly known as Don Bosco , was an Italian Catholic priest, educator, writer and saint of the 19th century. While working ...

hospital as well as forming the nation's first brass band which brought fame to the town. In memory of Lee Tae-seok, who died of cancer in 2010, the Korean TV network KBS and the South Sudanese government are working on a joint project called “Smile, Tonj” to rebuild Tonj.

Emmanuel Jal

Musician, actor and activist Emanuel Jal was born in Tonj.

James Thuch Madhier

Humanitarian James Thuch Madhier was born in Tonj.

Thomas Taban Akot

Medical Doctor, Thomas Taban Akot.

Transport

Three main roads lead out of Tonj: * A43-North leads northwest to

Wau, South Sudan Wau (Arabic: واو ''Wāw''; also known as Wow, Waw, or Wau Town) is a city in northwestern South Sudan, on the western bank of the Jur River, that serves as capital for Western Bahr el Ghazal (and formerly Wau State). It lies approximately nort ...

* A43-South leads southeast to

* A smaller road leads directly north to merge with the

Yirol Yirol is a city in South Sudan. Location It is located in ''Yirol West County'', Lakes (state), Lakes State, in central South Sudan. Its location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, South Sudan, Juba, the largest city in South Suda ...

- Yoynyang Road at

Thar Jath Thar Jath is a community in Koch County, Unity State, South Sudan. Thar Jath was chosen as a base by the consortium that developed the Block 5A, South Sudan Block 5A is an oil concession in South Sudan. After oil field development began during t ...

* The town is also served by

Tonj Airport Tonj is a city in South Sudan. Location The city is located in ''Tonj South County'', Warrap State, in northwest South Sudan. Its location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in the country. It lies on ...

Nomenclature and disambiguation

Tonj is known by four other nicknames including: Kalkuel, Gen-ngeu, Jurkatac and Genanyuon. Tonj is also considered as a community name for the people of the Former Tonj District during the colonial period. The Communities in Tonj are divided into the chieftainships. These chieftainships include the following:

In Tonj East (Riangnhom Rural Council)

1. Luanyjang Aguer Adel 2. Akook Tek 3. Thiik 4. Luanykoth 5. Ador 6. Kongor

In Tonj South (Thiet Rural Council)

1. Bongo 2. Muok Akot Wut 3. Yar Ayiei Cikom 4. Thony Akol Aduol 5. Apuk Jurwiir 6. Malual Karthiith

In Tonj North (Lil Rural Council)

1. Lou Ariik 2. Apuk Padoc 3. Konggor Arop Akol 4. Awan Parek 5. Lou Paher 6. Jur Mananger 7. Noi Ayii Kuot 8. Atok Buk 9. Abiem Mayar Mareng 10. Abuok Ayom 11. Leer Mayom Aken 12. Nyang Akoc Majok

References

External links

Location of Tonj, South Sudan At Google Maps
{{Authority control Populated places in Warrap (state) Bahr el Ghazal