Geography of South Sudan


The geography of South Sudan describes the physical features of South Sudan, a country in East Africa. South Sudan is a landlocked country and borders – clockwise – Sudan from the north, Ethiopia from the east, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo from the south and the Central African Republic from the west.
Until July 9, 2011 it was part of Sudan, then the largest country in Africa before a referendum took place in January 2011.

Political geography

South Sudan is divided into 32 states which correspond to three historical regions of the Sudan: Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Greater Upper Nile.

Bahr el Ghazal

  1. Aweil
  2. Aweil East
  3. Eastern Lakes
  4. Gogrial
  5. Gok
  6. Lol
  7. Tonj
  8. Twic
  9. Wau
  10. Rumbek

    Equatoria

  11. Amadi
  12. Gbudwe
  13. Imatong
  14. Jubek
  15. Maridi
  16. Namorunyang
  17. Terekeka
  18. Yei River

    Greater Upper Nile

  19. Boma
  20. Eastern Bieh
  21. Eastern Nile
  22. Jonglei
  23. Latjoor
  24. Northern Liech
  25. Ruweng
  26. Southern Liech
  27. Fangak
  28. Western Nile

Disputed areas

  1. Abyei Area, a small region of South Sudan bordering the Sudan. It is neared to South Sudanese states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, and Unity, currently has a special administrative status in South Sudan and is governed by an Abyei Area Administration. It was due to hold a referendum in 2012 on whether to join Sudan or remain part of the Republic of South Sudan, but in May the North Sudanese military seized Abyei, and it was not clear if the referendum would be held.
  2. Kafia Kingi, the westernmost part of South Sudan, which according to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement should have been given to South Sudan by Sudan. However, that did not happen, although South Sudanese troops were present there for several times. The area of Kafia Kingi, because it is disputed, so remote and far off, appears to be a safe haven for smugglers and criminals like the former head of the Lord Resistance Army, Joseph Kony. Most of Kafia Kingi is within Radom National Park, a Sudanese biosphere reserve, which is not far larger than Kafia Kingi itself.
  3. Ilemi Triangle, a small region of South Sudan in the far southeast bordering Kenya and Ethiopia and formerly disputed between Sudan and Kenya. With the South Sudanese independence from Sudan, South Sudan also took over the dispute around the Ilemi triangle. The triangle is now almost entirely considered Kenyan by Kenya – and it is a de facto control area of Kenya. The position of the South Sudanese government on the triangle is not clear.

    Land boundaries

The length of South Sudan's borders is 4,797 kilometers.

Bordering countries are :

Mountains

The Imatong Mountains are located in the southeast of South Sudan in the state of Eastern Equatoria, and extend into Uganda. Mount Kinyeti is the highest mountain of the range at 3,187 metres, and the highest in the whole of South Sudan. The range has an equatorial climate and had dense montane forests supporting diverse wildlife. In recent years the rich ecology has been severely degraded by forest clearance and subsistence farming, leading to extensive erosion of the steep slopes.

Natural resources

South Sudan is mostly covered in tropical forest, swamps, and grassland. The White Nile passes through the country, passing by the capital city of Juba.
Half the water of the White Nile is lost in the swamps as vegetation absorbs it or animals drink it. The Sudd, the Bahr el Ghazal and the Sobat River swamps provide a significant resource for wild animals, as well as livestock.