Бор: История, Наследие и Современность Южного Судана

Bor is a historic city in the Bor County of Jonglei State, in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan, being the epicenter of national liberation revolution with multiple landmarks that tells the story. In Malual Chaat barrack, statues of liberators and destroyed weapons are conserved and exhibited at historical heritage site. It has also served as the headquarters of Jonglei state. The city is situated on the east side of the White Nile (Bahr al Jabal River) at the southern extent of the sudd, South Sudan's vast central wetlands.

Bor is located on the eastern bank of White Nile River, a site where an ivory trading depot was established in the 1860s. It grew into a regional hub of the ivory trade during the late nineteenth century. In 1874, Charles George Gordon established a government station there under the Turkiyah Government. Malek was turned into a missionary stronghold in the Upper Nile Region. Shaw opened the first primary school in Malek. This school produced the first indigenous Anglican bishop to be consecrated in Dinkaland, Rt. Rev. Daniel Deng Atong, followed the Nikonora Achiek Deng Ariir. Daniel Deng Atong became the first to be baptized in Bor. Following the 2013 South Sudanese coup d'état attempt, Bor was contested in several weeks of combat between the national army and rebels led by Riek Machar due to its influential status on national affairs. A portion of the Nuer White Army joined the fighting as well. In 2016, Bor was designated as the seat of Bor Municipality. The town is located on the east bank of the White Nile.

The 2024 population of Bor is estimated by the United Nations agency’s Statistics to be 727,583.

The economy depends on agricultural products, fishing, livestock and foreign investments in different sectors. Bor has the highest number of livestock (cattle, goats and sheep) in the country. Bor is the second largest economy in the country, with Juba being the first as it is the centre of businesses and government. Prior to 2013 civil war, Bor was the fastest growing city in the country. Kenyan Commercial Bank(KCB) still maintains it’s branch.

Bor city has one the best primary and secondary schools in the country. Both in primary and secondary national examinations, students and schools from Bor rank among the highest nationally. The John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology, one of the leading public universities in the country, is located in Bor. The university is named after John Garang de Mabior a former leader of Sudan People Liberation Army/Movement(SPLA). Garang was a guerrilla leader fighting in Southern Sudan against Khartoum governments for what he termed as “New Sudan” under the SPLA/M umbrella. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 was signed under his leadership, an event which paved way for the independence of South Sudan in July 2011 when Southern Sudan voted for separation from the North during the referendum.

Bor is also the seat of Bor Diocese in the Episcopal Church of Sudan.

Bor is also served by Bor Airport, in addition to river traffic on the White Nile and three major roads that lead out of town. ARC collaborated with the government to build a multi million dollar highway from Juba to Bor, Making Bor the only city connected to national capital with a paved road. It's believed to be the longest dual carriage highway in the central and Eastern Africa.