Bentiu
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Bentiu, also spelled Bantiu, 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 ...
and capital of the state of
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 ...
.


Location

Bentiu is located in Rubkona County,
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 northern
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 ...
, near the international border with the
Republic of the 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 ...
. It lies approximately 654 kilometers (406 miles), 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 population ...
, the capital and largest city in the country. Bentiu sits on the southern bank of the
Bahr el Ghazal River The Bahr el Ghazal (; also spelled Bahr al Ghazal and Baḩr al Ghazāl) is a river in South Sudan. The South Sudanese region of Bahr el Ghazal takes its name from the river. The Bahr el Ghazal is the main western tributary of the Nile. It is ...
that separates it from the town of
Rubkona Rubkona (or ''Rub Kona'', ''Rub-Koni'') is a town in Unity State, South Sudan. It lies on the northern bank of the Bahr el Ghazal River, connected via the ''El Salaam Bridge'' (The Peace Bridge) to the state capital, Bentiu. This bridge was bomb ...
, which sits on the river's northern bank. The two towns are joined by the ''El Salaam Bridge'' that spans the river. This bridge, along with a market, was bombed and partially damaged by North Sudanese MiG-29 bomber airplanes on April 23, 2012, during the
Heglig Crisis The Heglig Crisis was a brief war fought between the countries of Sudan and South Sudan in 2012 over oil-rich regions between South Sudan's Unity and Sudan's South Kordofan states. South Sudan invaded and briefly occupied the small border town ...
. At least three people were killed in the raid.


Population

, the population of Bentiu including entire Rubkona County Payams was estimated at about 100,230.


Overview

The town was the administrative, political and commercial center of
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 ...
before its reorganisation in 2015 into the three new states of Ruweng,
Southern Liech Southern Liech State was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Northern Liech to the north, Western Bieh to the east, Jonglei to the southea ...
, and
Northern Liech Northern Liech was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Ruweng to the north, Western Bieh to the east, Southern Liech to the south, Tonj ...
, the latter of which is its current location. The state governor maintains the headquarters of the state in the town, however the county headquarters for Rubkona County are situated in the town of
Rubkona Rubkona (or ''Rub Kona'', ''Rub-Koni'') is a town in Unity State, South Sudan. It lies on the northern bank of the Bahr el Ghazal River, connected via the ''El Salaam Bridge'' (The Peace Bridge) to the state capital, Bentiu. This bridge was bomb ...
, across the river. During the South Sudanese conflict that began in December 2013, the national government lost control of the town to a commander loyal to former vice president Riek Machar, although Machar denied this. Violence in the area continued, and on January 17, 2014, a
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
official was quoted as saying that the town “simply did not exist anymore”, and that “it was completely burnt down”. In April 2014, hundreds of Bentiu civilians were massacred by the “ Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition Army” led by Machar.


United Nations Protection of Civilians Site Bentiu

In December 2014, between 40,000 and 50,000 people lived in Bentiu's refugee/ IDP camp, located outside the ransacked town of Bentiu, and Doctors Without Borders had begun to provide medical services. A 2015 survey indicated that
Nuer Nuer may refer to: * Nuer people * Nuer language The Nuer language (Thok Naath) ("people's language") is a Nilotic language of the Western Nilotic group. It is spoken by the Nuer people of South Sudan and in western Ethiopia (region of Gamb ...
was the preferred language for radio and news in the camp. By 2016, the camp was considered the largest
refugee camp A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees and people in refugee-like situations. Refugee camps usually accommodate displaced people who have fled their home country, but camps are also made for internally displaced peo ...
in South Sudan, and over 120,000 people had sought refuge there to escape fighting. Conditions in the camp were especially difficult in the dry season, when temperatures can reach 115 degrees
Fahrenheit The Fahrenheit scale () is a temperature scale based on one proposed in 1724 by the physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736). It uses the degree Fahrenheit (symbol: °F) as the unit. Several accounts of how he originally defined hi ...
. Additional wells were drilled to increase the available water supply, with the assistance of the Groundwater Relief charitable organization. In 2018, a
tree nursery A nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to a desired size. Mostly the plants concerned are for gardening, forestry or conservation biology, rather than agriculture. They include retail nurseries, which sell to the general ...
pilot project was implemented for the camp, by the
International Organization for Migration The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a United Nations agency that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. The IOM w ...
South Sudan, with support from the USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and the European Commission Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, using "local trees such as
mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree ''Mangifera indica''. It is believed to have originated in the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South a ...
,
guava Guava () is a common tropical fruit cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions. The common guava ''Psidium guajava'' (lemon guava, apple guava) is a small tree in the myrtle family ( Myrtaceae), native to Mexico, Central America, the ...
, neem, dinkipesha, ban, keer, meth,
lemon The lemon (''Citrus limon'') is a species of small evergreen trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar or China. The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culin ...
, bannes, powpow, dhuras, chokas, etc." In November 2018, Doctors without Borders reported that a series of shocking attacks had occurred, against 125 women and girls who were walking to a food distribution center in Bentiu. On December 20, the
Government of South Sudan A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
said "claims of sexual attacks on more than 150 women and girls outside Bentiu in Northern Liech State are unfounded and baseless." The
United Nations Mission in South Sudan The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is a United Nations peacekeeping mission for South Sudan, which became independent on 9 July 2011. UNMISS was established on 8 July 2011 by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1996 (201 ...
deployed a human rights team to the area to investigate allegations of 150 rapes, added patrols for additional protection, and began clearing brush and vegetation from roadsides to deter attackers.


Economy

* The former
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 ...
is the location of some of the largest oil deposits in South Sudan. The
Heglig oil field Heglig, or Panthou (also spelled Pandthow or Heglieg), is a small town at the border between the South Kordofan state of Sudan and the Unity State in South Sudan. The entirety of Heglig is claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, but administered b ...
, to the north of Bentiu, straddles the border between
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 ...
and
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 ...
. The
Greater Nile Oil Pipeline The Greater Nile Oil Pipeline is an important oil export pipeline in Sudan. It extends for approximately of which approximately 1.8 kilometres is submarine. It was constructed by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC) and commence ...
begins in
Unity oil field The Unity oil field is a major oil field in the Ruweng Administrative Area, South Sudan. It lies to the north of the state capital Bentiu in Rubkona County. The oil field, and the Heglig field further north, were discovered by Chevron Corporatio ...
in
Northern Liech state Northern Liech was a state in South Sudan that existed between 2 October 2015 and 22 February 2020. It was located in the Greater Upper Nile region and it bordered Ruweng to the north, Western Bieh to the east, Southern Liech to the south, Tonj ...
and extends north into the
Republic of the 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 ...
to the refinery at
Port Sudan Port Sudan ( ar, بور سودان, Būr Sūdān) is a port city in eastern Sudan, and the capital of the state of Red Sea. , it has 489,725 residents. Located on the Red Sea, Port Sudan is recognized as Sudan's main seaport and the source of 90% ...
on the
Red Sea The Red Sea ( ar, البحر الأحمر - بحر القلزم, translit=Modern: al-Baḥr al-ʾAḥmar, Medieval: Baḥr al-Qulzum; or ; Coptic: ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϩⲁϩ ''Phiom Enhah'' or ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϣⲁⲣⲓ ''Phiom ǹšari''; T ...
. Another oilfield sits near the township of Tarjath, about 60 kilometers (35 miles) to the south of the town. A lot of petroleum-related activity goes on in and around Bentiu. * Kenya Commercial Bank South Sudan maintains a branch in Bentiu.


Infrastructure

After the destruction during the
Second Sudanese Civil War The Second Sudanese Civil War was a conflict from 1983 to 2005 between the central Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army. It was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originate ...
, infrastructure in and around Bentiu is now being rebuilt. The projects that have been rehabilitated, constructed, or restored include the following: # Bentiu Airport - located just north of
Rubkona Rubkona (or ''Rub Kona'', ''Rub-Koni'') is a town in Unity State, South Sudan. It lies on the northern bank of the Bahr el Ghazal River, connected via the ''El Salaam Bridge'' (The Peace Bridge) to the state capital, Bentiu. This bridge was bomb ...
, opposite Bentiu on the
Bahr el Ghazal River The Bahr el Ghazal (; also spelled Bahr al Ghazal and Baḩr al Ghazāl) is a river in South Sudan. The South Sudanese region of Bahr el Ghazal takes its name from the river. The Bahr el Ghazal is the main western tributary of the Nile. It is ...
# Bentiu Civil Hospital - donated and constructed by the China National Petroleum Corporation #
Bahr el Ghazal River The Bahr el Ghazal (; also spelled Bahr al Ghazal and Baḩr al Ghazāl) is a river in South Sudan. The South Sudanese region of Bahr el Ghazal takes its name from the river. The Bahr el Ghazal is the main western tributary of the Nile. It is ...
- redredged to allow barges free passage # Rubkona New Market - largest source of fresh produce for both towns #Bentiu water treatment plant - "rehabilitated and upgraded" in May 2016.


Education

Bentiu is also the location of the planned Western Upper Nile University, a promise by the state's education officials to speed up the higher education system in what was then Unity state. Bentiu has three primary schools and two secondary schools. These schools were teaching in
Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
before 2005, and as of 2011,
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
is being taught.


See also

*
Rubkona Rubkona (or ''Rub Kona'', ''Rub-Koni'') is a town in Unity State, South Sudan. It lies on the northern bank of the Bahr el Ghazal River, connected via the ''El Salaam Bridge'' (The Peace Bridge) to the state capital, Bentiu. This bridge was bomb ...
*
Rubkona County Rubkona County is an administrative division of Unity State, South Sudan. The administrative center is the town of Rubkona, across the Bahr el Ghazal River from the state capital Bentiu and the town of Yoynyang, which are also in Rubkona County. ...
* Bentiu Airport *
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 ...
*
Greater Upper Nile The Greater Upper Nile is a region of northeastern South Sudan. It is named for the White Nile, a tributary of the Nile River in North and East Africa. History The Greater Upper Nile region seceded from the Republic of Sudan on 9 July 2011 alon ...
*
Greater Nile Oil Pipeline The Greater Nile Oil Pipeline is an important oil export pipeline in Sudan. It extends for approximately of which approximately 1.8 kilometres is submarine. It was constructed by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC) and commence ...
*
Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company The Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC) is a petroleum exploration and production company operating in Sudan. It was incorporated on 18 June 1997 and undertook construction of the Greater Nile Oil Pipeline which links Sudan's inland ...
*
2014 Bentiu massacre The 2014 Bentiu massacre occurred on 15 April 2014 in the town of Bentiu, in the north of South Sudan, during the South Sudanese Civil War. The attack has been described by ''The Economist'' as the "worst massacre" of the civil war. Prelude Pri ...


References


External links


Location of Bentiu At Google Maps



Sudan, Oil & Human Rights
{{State capitals in South Sudan Populated places in Unity (state) State capitals in South Sudan Greater Upper Nile