Unity (state)
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Unity (Arabic: الوحدة; transliterated: al-Wahda) is one of the 26 wilayat or states of Sudan. It has an area of 35,956 km² and an estimated population of approximately 175,000 (2000). Bentiu is the capital of the state. It has nine districts and is the location of some rich oil fields.
While the national government in Khartoum maintains the name Unity, the new autonomous government of South Sudan refers to the state as Western Upper Nile. Prior to an administrative reorganization in 1994, Unity was part of a much large province of Upper Nile.
Unity is inhabited by two ethnic groups, the Nuer (majority) and the Dinka (minority). The nine districts which comprise the state are Mayom, Rubkona, Parieng, Leer, Guit, Koch, abeimnom, Mayendit and Payinjiar.
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[edit] Economy
Agriculture is the primary economic activity in Unity. The people are nomadic agro-pastoralists who engage in both agriculture and rearing of livestock, especially cattle. Farming is conducted during the rainy season although some cultivation also occurs during summer. Vegetables are not widely cultivated as most farmers are rural rather than urban, and therefore lack access to markets for their produce. Some NGOs are introducing farmers to the practice of cultivation for market.
[edit] Unity oil field
Sudan's first oil reserves were discovered in Unity during the 1970s. The international oil companies which engaged in oil exploration in Unity contributed to massive displacement of the indigenous population.[1]
The Unity oil field is situated within the largest hydrocarbon accumulation in the Muglad rift basin and contains an estimated 150 million barrels of oil.[2] The Greater Nile Oil Pipeline begins in the Unity oil field.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Human Rights Watch , 'Sudan, oil, and human rights', www.hrw.org, November.
- ^ NPA Group 2008, 'Sudan - Muglad Basin', www.npagroup.co.uk, 27 February. Retrieved on 5 March 2008.
[edit] External links
- USAID 2001, 'Sudan: Oil and gas concession holders' (map), University of Texas Library. (Map shows location of oil field. Note that state borders are out of date.)
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