Lainya County

SPLA campaign in Lainya 2010 Election

SPLA/M delegates waiting a gift from Lainya county Youths 2009
Total population
(Approximately 80,000)
Languages
Bari/Pojulu
Religion
Christianity, Traditional
Related ethnic groups
Nilotic peoples

Lainya is a county on the Yei Juba road in the Yei River State of South Sudan. The county has been affected by the civil war between Sudanese People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA) and the National Congress Party (NCP) of the Sudanese government. Lainya had been bombed by planes and artillery of the Sudanese government against the SPLA/M rebels during the war.

The county of Lainya is located at the central region of Pojulu measuring 101 km from Juba and 60 km to Yei river county. Business people, tourists and all travelling vehicles from Yei to Juba and Juba to Yei stop for their breakfast in Lainya, which is the only area with high level of development on the road. Apparently the commissioner of Lainya county Samuel Suba (formerly Col. Vincent Kujo Lobang) is working hard with the local administrators to improve the infrastructures and the development in Lainya County.

The Sudanese Army advanced in the south, reaching the southern borders with neighboring Kenya and Uganda. The campaign started in 1989 and ended in 1994. During the fight the situation worsened in the tribal south causing casualties among the Christian and animist minority. During the control of Lainya by Sudanese government thousands of Improvised explosive devices or IED where planted all around the roads, village paths and farmlands. All of those IEDs where collected after the signing of CPA in 2005. Some of the IEDs were unable to be removed and the only choice was to destroy by explosion.

The war went on for more than 20 years, including the use of Russian-made combat helicopters and military cargo planes which were used as bombers to devastating effect on villages and tribal rebels alike. The war displaced an estimated four million people (of a total estimated population of thirty-two million); and killed an estimated two million people. It damaged Sudan's economy and led to food shortages, resulting in starvation and malnutrition. The lack of investment during this time, particularly in the south, meant a generation lost access to basic health services, education, and jobs. Lainya is one of the ruined county in Sudanese civic war. Its geographical location has been on the target of every war. Also the government was keen in Lainya for its resources particular teaks, which led to defforestation of many plantations in the area of Loka during the war.