Torit County Explained

Official Name:Torit County
Settlement Type:County
Pushpin Map:Southern Sudan
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in South Sudan
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: South Sudan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Equatoria
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2: Eastern Equatoria
Seat:Torit
Seat Type:Headquarters
Leader Title:County Commissioner
Leader Name:Fermo Peter Isara[1]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:5,835
Population As Of:2017 estimate[2]
Population Total:153,314
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Timezone:CAT
Utc Offset:+2
Coordinates:4.4167°N 66°W

Torit County is an administrative region in Eastern Equatoria of South Sudan,[3] with headquarters in the town of Torit, which is also the state capital.

Location

Torit County is located in Eastern Equatoria, in southeastern South Sudan, close to the border with Kenya and Uganda. Eastern Equatoria is one of the ten states of South Sudan. Torit County is bordered by Lafon County to the north, Budi County to the east, Ikotos County to the southeast, Magwi County to the southwest and Juba County in Central Equatoria to the west. (See map to the right).

The town of Torit, where the county headquarters are located, lies approximately 150km (90miles), by road, east of Juba, the capital and largest city in South Sudan.[4] The coordinates of Torit County are: 4° 30' 0.00"N, 32° 30' 0.00"E (Latitude: 4.5000; Longitude: 32.5000).

Overview

Torit County was earlier split into 8 payams. The payams that constitute Torit County include the following:[5]

  1. Bur Payam
  2. Ifwotu Payam
  3. Kudo Payam
  4. Hiyala Payam
  5. Himodonge Payam
  6. Imurok Payam
  7. Nyong Payam
  8. Iyire Payam

The town of Torit, the capital of Eastern Equatoria, is also the headquarters of Torit County, one of the eight counties which make up Eastern Equatoria. The Imatong Mountains lie partly in the southern part of Torit County. In April 2016, the county was divided into 3 counties, with 2 new counties of Torit East and Torit West being carved out of the county.[6]

History

Torit County was formed in 1934 by the merging of the districts of Teretenya and Opari. Opari was the district administrative headquarters for the regions inhabited by the Lotuko (Otuho), Madi and Acholi ethnic groups. Torit county was adversely affected by both the Second Sudanese Civil War and by the activities of the Lord's Resistance Army. As late as 2006, a significant portion of its population was still internally displaced within South Sudan.

Population

The 2008 Sudanese census estimated the population of Torit County at approximately 99,740[7] Although these results were disputed by the South Sudanese authorities, they are the only recent figures available and form a basis on which newer studies can be based.

In April 2016, the state was divided into 3 counties with 2 new counties called Torit East and Torit West being carved out of it.[6]

Tribes in Torit county

See also

External links

4.5°N 62°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Public Leaders' Appointments In Imatong Counties . Gurtong . 14 August 2016 . Peter Lokale Nakimangole . 20 August 2016.
  2. Web site: South Sudan: States and counties . 2024-02-14 . www.citypopulation.de.
  3. Web site: Torit: Speaker And Deputy Elected, Commissioners, Administrators Sworn In. Gurtong. 4 March 2016. 14 August 2016.
  4. http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Sudan_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Juba%20%20(Airport)%20&toplace=Torit%20(Al%20Wilayah%20al%20Istiwa'iyah)%20&fromlat=4.872006&tolat=4.4133333&fromlng=31.601117&tolng=32.5677778 Estimated Road Distance Between Juba And Torit With Maap
  5. http://www.southsudan-climis.org/attachements/EES_FSL_Bulletin_2009Q1.pdf Partial Listing of the Payams of Torit County
  6. Web site: Additional Counties In Torit And Kapoeta States Established. Peter Lokale. Nakimangole. Gurtong. 22 April 2016. 14 August 2016.
  7. http://www.unsudanig.org/library/mapcatalogue/south/data/population/SS_0041_Population_Total_County_A4_20091229_300_1.pdf 2008 South Sudanese Population By County