Juba, the new capital city of the
Republic of South Sudan, is one of
Africa's fastest growing cities, not
least due to the waves of Chinese
workers who have moved there to help
develop the area's oil industry.
It is estimated that today Juba has a
population of some one million,
rising from 200,000 in just six
years. The
city is located on the White Nile and
was effectively founded in 1922 by
Greek traders, although the area had
been a trading hub for Turkish
traders from the 19th century.
Juba
is largely comprised of four areas.
Firstly the Nile Camps which sit on
the River Nile itself. These camps
include the Oasis and Mango camps as
well as a number of hotels and are
the site of the recently repaired
Juba Bridge. Juba Town itself,
originally a small port on a
tributary to the Nile, is home to the
city's jail, police, banks and
bureaus. Wizara Road hosts Juba's
parliament and government ministries
as well as offices for UNICEF and
other organisations whilst Malakia is
the commercial and shopping sector of
the city.
Rubbish is normally piled up on the
streets and set fire to whilst the
city itself is strewn with makeshift
buildings made of bricks with tin
roofs. Some have described Juba as
one big construction site and locals
speak ruefully of the influx of
foreigners in recent years that have
created a relatively cosmopolitan
society with Ugandan and Eritrean
restaurants as well as Kenyan food
kiosks. European style casual dress
is the norm.
Ironically independence for South
Sudan has hit educational provision
in the new country with 70% of
teaching staff at the University of
Juba leaving to flee to Khartoum
leaving just 150 workers for 11,000
students.
This video takes you on a tour of the
city of Juba and its hopes, fears and
challenges for the future.
