Gezira(Arabic:ولاية الجزيرة,romanized:Wilāyat Al Ǧazīra), also speltAl Jazirah,Al JazeeraandAl Jazira,is one of the 18states of Sudan.The state lies between theBlue Nileand theWhite Nilein the east-central region of the country. The state has a population of 5,096,920 as of 2018,[3]and an area of 27,549 km2.[4]
Gezira
ولاية الجزيرة Al Jazirah | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Seal | |
 Location in Sudan | |
| Coordinates:14°30′N33°30′E/ 14.500°N 33.500°E | |
| Country |  Sudan |
| Capital | Wad Madani |
| Government | |
| • Governor (Wali) | Mohamed Tahir Ayala |
| Area | |
• Total | 27,549 km2(10,637 sq mi) |
| Population (2018) | |
• Total | 5,096,920[1] |
| • Rank | 2nd in Sudan(16%) |
| • Density | 179/km2(460/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2(CAT) |
| ISO 3166-2 | SD-GZ |
| HDI(2017) | 0.547[2] low |
| Website | http://www.gazirastate.gov.sd/ |
The state's capital isWad Madani.Gezira is known as an irrigated cotton-producing state as it is a well-populated area that is suitable for agriculture. The state's name comes from theArabicword for island.
History
edit
The area was at the southern end ofNubiaand little is known about its ancient history and only limited archaeological work has been conducted in this area. It was part of the kingdom ofAlodiafor several centuries, and with that state's collapse in the early sixteenth century, it became the centre of theFunj Sultanate.
Katfia in Gezira was the place where theWad Habuba Revolttook place in April 1908. TheGezira Schemewas a program launched in 1925 to fostercottonfarming. At that time theSennar Damand numerousirrigationcanalswere built. Al Jazirah became theSudan's major agricultural region with more than 10,000 square kilometres (2.5×106acres) under cultivation.
The administrative state of Gezira was established on 1 July 1943, after theBlue Nilestate was divided into three. The initial development project was semi-private, but the government nationalized it in 1950. Cotton production increased in the 1970s but by the 1990s increased wheat production has supplanted a third of the land formerly seeded with cotton.[5]
The ongoingWar in Sudanthat begun in 2023 has caused a refugee crisis in the state, with an estimated 250,000 fleeing due to clashes on December 15, 2023 by December 18 of the same year.[6]
In October 2024, the state was affected by thewidespread massacres.[7]
Districts and populated places
editThe capital of Gezira isWad Madani.
The state is divided into sevendistricts,namely:
Populated places include:
Other villages include:
References
edit- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2017-03-12.Retrieved2019-01-02.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab".hdi.globaldatalab.org.Retrieved2018-09-13.
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2017-03-12.Retrieved2019-01-02.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Home – Al-Gezira State".Sudan Tribune. 2003–2013. Archived fromthe originalon May 20, 2014.RetrievedMarch 19,2013.
- ^Hyslop, J (1952).The Sudan Story.Naldrett Press. p. The Bounteous River.
- ^"At least 250000 flee fighting in Sudan's El Gezira state -IOM".Reuters.2023-12-18.Retrieved2024-01-08.
- ^"UN official calls for more attention to Sudan's 'forgotten' war amid fresh atrocities".Arab News.2024-10-26.Retrieved2024-10-26.