Koch County

Koch County
Koch County

Location in South Sudan

Coordinates: 8°35′45″N 29°59′31″E / 8.595958°N 29.991989°ECoordinates: 8°35′45″N 29°59′31″E / 8.595958°N 29.991989°E
Country South Sudan
State Unity State
Population (2008)
 • Total 75,000

Koch County is an administrative division of Unity State, South Sudan, covering an area in the center of the state.

The administrative center is the town of Koch. Large villages include Dhor Wang, Thorial, Duar, Wath-Thier and Bieh.[1] According to the Sudan Population and Housing Census, 2008, there were 75,000 persons in Koch County. The population is extremely poor, with widespread illiteracy. There are serious security concerns.[2]

Between April and November 2010, over 35 people died in the county, many of them civilians, from insurgent attacks. There were suspicions that General Gatluak Gai, who came from Koch County, was the leader of the forces responsible for these attacks.[3] As of January 2011 talks were in progress with different people who claimed to represent Gatluak Gai, but the situation was extremely obscure.[4] On 18 July 2011, Gatluak Gai concluded peace talks with the SPLA. Three days later he was killed. His second in command in the "South Sudan Liberation Army" rebel group, Marko Chuol Ruei, claimed responsibility for the death, saying Gatluak Gai had told his fighters to ignore the peace agreement.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Unity State Map". UN OCHA. 08/03/10. Retrieved 2011-09-14. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ↑ "Integrated and Quality Education Response in Koch County.". LIECH HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICE. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  3. ↑ Machien J. Luoi (18 November 2010). "Koch County Insurgency Is A National Security Issue". Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  4. ↑ Mayank Bubna (6 Jan 2011). "UNITY STATE: SECURITY FEARS AMID REFERENDUM HOPES - PART 2". Relief Web. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  5. ↑ Bonifacio Taban Kuich (25 July 2011). "Militia Deputy Admits Killing of His Leader Gutluak". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 2011-09-12.