Juba

Juba is a big city in South Sudan.

It sits right by the White Nile river. The river helps people move things by boat.

A long time ago, a small village was here. Later, many people moved to build a new town.

This city is now the capital of the land.

Many people live in the city now. It is growing very fast. People come from many places to live there.

Rain falls a lot from March to October. This makes it hard to fix the roads. People work hard to build them again.

Juba is an important place to visit. It is a busy part of the world.

Juba is the capital city of South Sudan.

It sits on the banks of the White Nile. This river is a very important part of the area. It helps move things by water.

Long ago, Juba was a small Bari village. In the 1920s, a new town was built there. Greek merchants helped build many parts of the city. They built many structures in the market area. Some of these buildings still stand today.

The city has grown very fast. In 2006, about 250,000 people lived there. By 2017, the population was 525,953. Many people move to the city for work.

Weather can make work difficult in Juba. It has a long rainy season. This lasts from March until October. The rain makes it hard to fix the roads. Many roads are not paved with smooth stone or tar. People are working hard to repair them. Juba also has an airport. Many planes fly there every day. They bring food and help to the people.

Juba is the capital and largest city of South Sudan.

It sits right on the banks of the White Nile river. This location makes it a river port for the region. The city is also the capital of the Central Equatoria State. It is the most recently declared national capital in the area. Many people live in the city and its many suburbs. In 2017, the population was 525,953 people.

The city has grown very fast over the last few years.

Building the city happened in several different steps. It started as a small Bari village called Juba. In 1920 and 1921, the Church Missionary Society established a mission there. Later, officials chose the site because it was near river transport. They wanted a place to build a new town for the Mongalla Province. By 1927, major construction was already moving forward. Traders from Rejaf moved to the new city in 1929. The Governor's office moved there in 1930 to lead the province.

History shows that many different people helped shape Juba. Greek merchants played a very central role in the early 1920s. They built many structures in the downtown Juba Market area. Some of these buildings are still standing today. They built the Juba Hotel in the mid-1930s. They also built the Central Bank building in the mid-1940s. Even the old Sudan Airways Building was made by Greeks. These merchants had a good relationship with the native Bari people.

Juba has seen many big changes through the years. It was once a small garrison for the Egyptian army. Explorers like Samuel and Florence Baker used a nearby island as a base. The city became the capital of South Sudan in 2011. This happened after the country gained its independence. Now, there are plans to move the capital to Ramciel. This new capital would be about 250 km away from Juba. The government announced this move in September 2011.

Traveling in and out of Juba can be a big job. The city has an international airport for planes. These flights connect Juba to places like Nairobi and Addis Ababa. The roads are often unpaved and can be hard to use. A long rainy season lasts from March until October. This rain makes it very difficult to fix the roads. Many people are working to repair the paths to Uganda. These roads help people return to their homes and live normal lives.

Juba is the capital and largest city of South Sudan.

It also serves as the capital of the Central Equatoria State. The city is situated on the banks of the White Nile. It functions as a river port for the region. Juba is the most recently declared national capital in the world. In 2017, the city had a population of 525,953 people.

The metropolitan area covers a much larger space than the city center.

The city began as a small Bari village also named Juba. In 1920 and 1921, the Church Missionary Society established a mission there. They also created the Nugent Memorial Intermediate School. Anglo-Egyptian officials later chose this site for a new town. They wanted to create a capital for the Mongalla Province. The location was ideal because of its proximity to river transportation. Major construction for the new city was underway by 1927. Traders from Rejaf moved to the city in 1929. By 1930, the Governor's office of Mongalla moved to Juba.

Greek merchants played a central role in the early development of the city. They arrived in the early 1920s to supply the British Army. There were never more than 2,000 Greek merchants in Juba. However, they built many important structures in the downtown Juba Market area. They also built in the area known as the Greek Quarter. This area is known today as the suburb of Hai Jalaba. Many of these original structures are still standing. Greek merchants built the Juba Hotel in the mid-1930s. They also constructed the Central Bank building in the mid-1940s. Other buildings they built include the Ivory Bank and the Paradise Hotel.

Juba has a long history of political change. Under the Khedivate of Egypt, it was a southern garrison for the Egyptian army. Soldiers there often faced diseases like malaria, meningitis, and blackwater fever. Explorers Samuel and Florence Baker used the nearby island of Gondokoro as a base. They used it during expeditions from 1863 to 1873. In 1946, the British began a policy to unite northern and southern Sudan. This led to the Juba Conference. The city saw heavy fighting during the Second Sudanese Civil War. In 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement made Juba the capital of the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan.

The city grew very rapidly after the peace agreement was signed. Between 2006 and 2011, the population rose from 250,000 to one million. This growth turned the city into an amalgamation of many villages. Many refugees and returnees moved there to live. This period also saw ethnic tensions regarding land distribution. Juba became the national capital of South Sudan on 9 July 2011. This followed the country's independence from the Republic of the Sudan. Some officials felt the city was not suitable as a permanent capital. The government announced a plan to move the capital to Ramciel. This new city would be 250 km away from Juba.

Transportation in Juba is a complex system of air, water, and land. The city is the southern terminus for traffic on the Bahr-al-Ghazal portion of the White Nile.

Juba International Airport is a vital hub for the country. It handles many flights for the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations. Daily flights connect Juba to Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Entebbe, and Wau. The airport terminal construction has faced delays due to changing oil prices. On land, many roads are unpaved and difficult to travel. A long rainy season lasts from March until October. This season makes road repairs very difficult and slow.

Infrastructure and governance continue to evolve in the city. The Juba City Council was formed in March 2011. It manages the city's administration and services. The council works alongside neighborhood authorities appointed by ethnic groups. However, many of these informal offices became defunct by late 2017. The city also faces challenges from recent conflicts. A tanker explosion in 2015 killed nearly 200 people. Recent conflicts have brought approximately 6,000 refugees to the city. Many of these people have settled in the Gorom area. They often struggle due to a lack of humanitarian aid.