Yei

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map of Sudan in Africa

Yei in Central Equatoria state

Yei is a city in the central south of Sudan and a local headquarters of the SPLA for Central Equatoria state, formerly part of the province of Equatoria.The name Yei was born out of the city's proximity to the river Yei where in 1915 a small clinic was set up by British missionaries. The city dwellers prefer to call it small London because of its cosmopolitant nature.

Before civil war broke out in 1983, Yei was a booming town because of its proximity to the Ugandan and Congolese borders. To get into the inner part of south Sudan, most trade had to pass through the town. The result was that it became a booming metropolis with many bars, shops and hotels. Civil servants and other high ranking government officials located in Juba, 100 miles to the east, found it a convenient gate-away place during weekends and long holidays, hence the moniker "small London."

1 History
2 Demographics
3 Economy
4 Unrelated trivia
5 External links

[edit] History

Yei was located in the embattled region of the Second Sudanese Civil War and was conquered on 10 March 1997 by the SPLA.

[edit] Demographics

Yei has 40,382 inhabitants (2005).

Population growth:

year	inhabitants
1983 (census)	23,419
2005 (calculation)	40,382

[edit] Economy

Because of the civil war, the city's infrastructure, trade and industry are only weakly developed. But in the course of peace-agreement between the Sudanese government in Khartoum and the SPLA there are first signals of economic recovery.

So the road between Yei and Kaya, on the Ugandan border, was repaired. It was financed by HABITAT and WFP. With it the travel time to Kaya was reduced from five hours to one.

The city is surrounded by lush farmlands and coffee and cassava are among some of the commodities the city offers. Its proximity to the DRC and Uganda borders also ensures its business potential is increased.