Upper Nile Region from 1898 under Anglo-Egyptians Military Rule with Civil Colonial Natives Administrations

Earlier Upper Nile Region

In October 1897 an Anglo-Egyptian army under the command of Gen. Sir (later Lord) Horatio Herbert Kitchener was ordered to invade Sudan. Sir Lord Kitchener with his Anglo-Egyptian badged of Sudanese army under British Military Officers Lord Kitchener initiates the role to and Control the Central Southern Sudan region up to the Nile River in Upper Nile Region.

On September 1898, Officer Lord Kitchener who led Anglo-Egyptians Forces from Cairo, Egypt toward Sudan with a Conquest to Conquer the land, defeated the Mahdists under the command of Khalifa Abdallahi in the battle of Omdurman. And as the British thirst quest for land Control towards Sudan was highly in plan, the army under Lord Kitchener turn their focus for the Conquest Control of Southern Sudan via River Nile and River Sobat. The French forces expansionists however under Captain Marchand were already occupying Fashoda; while Belgians forces were Stationed at Rejaf and Jebel Lado.

In Ngokland (Ngok Lual Yak) the British established a Military Outpost along River Sobat in Wun Thony da Wiech also known as Dolleip Hill on the confluence Eastern bank of River Sobat and the Nile River. While in Nasir, they occuppied an old Military outpost which was for Abyssinians (Ethiopians) who encroached in to Sudan territory through Sobat and Baro river. The Military Outpost Station was called Sobat Station, named after River Sobat because the Army were residing along River Sobat.

In 1914, a Military Outpost that was established along River Sobat by British in Wun Thony da Wiech also known as Dolleip Hill was moved to Malakal. Hence Malakal was made an Administrative Centre for Central Southern Sudan and became a Provincial Capital of Colonial Administrations.

The area remained under Military ruled until Mr. K.C.P. Struve was appointed as the first civilian governor of Central Southern Sudan (Later known as Upper Nile Province). K.C.P. Struve, however did not rule the area independently because the military were constantly interfering with his civil administration due to territorials and provincial borders issues which were then needed to be established.

History of 9 Districts of Upper Nile under Sudan Colonial Natives Administration

In early 1921, the interest need to have a Native Civil Administration was pre-plan by the British Authorities. The concept propose that Senior inspectors can become deputy governors and their duties will be more closely link with strong tied to the Provincial Capitals; it was also proposed that inspectors can become district officers and assistant district commissioners.

During Governor K.C.P Struve’s tribute system the percentage of tax on individual was low. When K.C.P Struve was a governor in Malakal, Mr. John Lee was appointed as the first civil District Administrator for Nasir District while on Ngok Lual Yak territory Mr. Percy Coriat (Nick Named by Ngok Lual Yak as Gier-Kuach) was a District Administrator for Abwong District which was made up of Ayod and Nyirol divisions and Locations respectively. Abwong District later change it name to Sobat District with it Administrative Head Quarter in Malakal where it pays Tax to River Sobat Revenue Authority with it Building in Malakal town Council.

In 1923, most administrative chiefs with local Courts and Community Police were empowered and become a great System factor who reduce the level of raiding between Nuer and Jieng (Dinka) Communities through Administrative roles played by Native Administrations under District Administrators. In 1926 C.A. Willis succeeded Struve, and Governor C. A Willis created an idea of and Executive Chief in 1928. He reinstated the style of Executive Chief into Native Administration.

After Sudan Independent in 1.1.1956, Upper Province was still under Territories of Native British Colonial Administrations era until 1963 to 1975 with 9 Districts in Upper Nile Region. The following were the 9 Districts of Upper Nile Province as their borders remained according to 1.1.1956.

The 9 Districts of Upper Nile Province according to 1.1.1956

• Akobo District, Head-Quarter Akobo
• Bentiu District, Head-Quarter Bentiu
• Bor District, Head-Quarter Bor
• Kodok District, Head-Quarter Fashodo
• Nasir District, Head-Quarter Nasir
• Fangak District, Head-Quarter Fangak
• Renk District, Head-Quarter Renk
• Pibor District, Head-Quarter Pibor
• Sobat District, Head-Quarter Malakal

Malakal

Malakal before it become an Administrative town, was a vast pastures grass of land were cattle were driven to and kept during dry Season by Ngok Laul Yak people before it was Established as an Administrative town. Malakal become an Initial Administrative town in earlier 1914 when a Military Outpost which was Established by the British along River Sobat in Wun Thony da Wiech (Dolleip Hill) was moved to Malakal along Eastern bank of River Nile, therefore prompted the creation of Malakal as Administrative town and a Provincial Head Quarter of Upper Nile Region.

Malakal also become a town council under Municipality of Sobat District which was District Administrator for Ngok Lual Yak run by Percy Coriat (Also known as Gier-Kuach by the Locals). Mr. Percy Coriat and John Lee were the first Civil District Administrators appointed under the Leadership of Civil Governor K.C.P Truves in 1919.

Sobat District Historical Origin background

Sobat District is one of the former 9 District of Upper Nile Region. The District was named after River Sobat because the area lie along River Sobat that run from Ethiopia to the Confluence of River Nile as it end point in South Sudan. When Anglo-Egyptian arrived, they established a British Military Outpost in Wun Thony da Wiech (Dolleip Hill). The Military Outpost Station was called Sobat Station in which the name Sobat District came from but the word Sobat itself was an Original name driven out from River Sobat name.

Upper Nile Region Under President Jaffer Nimeri

In 1976 President Nimeri Politically divided Upper Nile Region into two provinces and created a new Province called Jonglei Province out of Old Upper Nile Region of Malakal. Four former districts of Native Administration namely Akobo, Bor, Fangak and Pibor were taken to newly Created Province of Jonglei. Where as the other 5 former Districts of Native Administrations namely Kodok, Nasir, Bentiu, Renk and Sobat District respectively remained in Old Upper Nile Province with Malakal as it Head Quarter under Municipality of Sobat District which was a District Administration for Ngok Lual Yak.

President Jaffer Nimeri 2nd Political Division of Upper Nile

Again from 1983 to 1984 the Southern Region under President Nimeri got divided into 3 Province. President Nimeri Curved out Bentiu District from Old Upper Nile Region Malakal and called it Unity Province and Renamed Old Upper Nile Province with it Head Quarter in Malakal as Sobat Province, the name that President Nimeri adopted was initially from Sobat District which Originally came from 1920s British Native Administration of Abwong District which was having it Head Quarter in Malakal. While old Sobat District still retain it names which was causing Administrative conflict within Malakal Town Council between Sobat Provincial Administrations and Sobat District Administrations.

President Bashir Political Administration of Upper Nile Province

From 1983 to 1993 Upper Nile Region remained under Provincial Administration namely: Jonglei Province, Sobat Province and Unity Province. Jonglei Province Head Quarter was in Bor, Sobat Province Head Quarter was in Malakal and Unity Province Head Quarter was in Bentiu. In 1994 President Bashir made the 3 Province of Old Upper Nile regions as State and abandon the Nimeri Political idea of 3 provinces. And when CPA was signed by Dr. John Garang and Bashir in 2005, President Bashir idea of States were adopted by Dr. John Garang under Protocols of CPA.

References

Coldit Kiir Dau Article on Ngok Lual Yak

External Sources

• Britannica on Anglo-French dispute, Egyptian-Sudan
• Native Administration of Southern Sudan (Douglas Johnson 1995: 19)
• Edward A. Miner, International Studies Bibliographer, University of Iowa
• Choldit Kiir Dau M. Oral Interchat with Gen. John Kiir Dau, Former Commissioner of Sobat District 1983/4, Hon. Dook Michar
• Authored by Governor C.A. Willis upon Exit from Upper Nile Province in 1931), describes the transition in these terms (1995: 7-8):