West Darfur State | |
Other Name: | Gharb Darfor |
Settlement Type: | State |
Mapsize: | 299px |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Type1: | Region |
Subdivision Name1: | Darfur |
Subdivision Type2: | No. of counties |
Seat Type: | Capital |
Seat: | Geneina |
Leader Title: | Governor |
Leader Name: | Vacant |
Area Total Km2: | 79460 |
Population As Of: | 2018 |
Population Total: | 1,775,945[1] |
Timezone: | CAT |
Utc Offset: | +2 |
Coordinates: | 12.8833°N 80°W |
Blank Name Sec2: | HDI (2017) |
Blank Info Sec2: | 0.439[2] |
West Darfur State (Wilāyat Ḡarb Dārfūr), historically Dar Masalit,[3] is one of the states of Sudan, and one of five comprising the Darfur region. Prior to the creation of two new states in January 2012, it had an area of 79,460 km² and an estimated population of approximately 1,775,945 in 2018. It borders North and Central Darfur to the east. The Chadian prefectures of Biltine and Ouaddaï lie to the west, while to the north is the prefecture of Bourkou-Ennedi-Tibesti. Al-Junaynah is the capital of the state. West Darfur has been the site of much of the Darfur conflict.[4]
During the 2023 Sudan conflict, ethnic violence has been rampant across the region.[5] This has included several Masalit massacres.