- Unity (state)
Unity ( _ar. 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 ofSouth 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 [Nure] Majority] () and the
Dinka (minority). The nine districts which comprise the state are Mayom, Rubkona, Parieng, Leer, Guit, Koch, abeimnom, Mayendit and Payinjiar.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.
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. [Human Rights Watch , [http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/sudan1103/ 'Sudan, oil, and human rights'] , "www.hrw.org", November.]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. [NPA Group 2008, [http://www.npagroup.co.uk/oilandmineral/onshore/studies/country_sudan.htm 'Sudan - Muglad Basin'] , "www.npagroup.co.uk", 27 February. Retrieved on 5 March 2008.] The
Greater Nile Oil Pipeline begins in the Unity oil field.ee also
*
2007 Sudan floods
*Greater Nile Oil Pipeline References
External links
* USAID 2001, [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/africa/sudan_oil_usaid_2001.pdf '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 Note that state borders are out of date.)
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