Nyala
Camp of IDPs near Nyala resulting from the Darfur conflict
Nyala Location in Sudan
Coordinates: 12°2′11″N 24°52′37″E / 12.03639°N 24.87694°E / 12.03639; 24.87694
Country	Sudan
State	South Darfur
Population (2007)
- Total	565,734

Nyala (Daju: "the place of chatting or a theatre") is the capital of South Darfur state in the western part of the Sudan. Nyala is located at elevation 2,208 feet (673 m) in the Darfur historical region. Local industries produce textiles, as well as processed food, and leather goods. Nyala has terminus ends for both road and railway, and also has a domestic airport. Nyala serves as a trading place for gum arabic and has branches of the Agricultural Bank of Sudan and the Peoples Cooperative Bank.

History

Nyala was the headquarters of the Daju empire, which was established around Jebel Um-Kurdós, until the fall of the Daju rule at the end of the 15th century, according to an account of sultan Daju Kassi Furok or Kassifrogé who mounted the Antelope from Darfur then perished in Dar Sila.

Nyala Airport

When Great Britain conquered the present-day Sudan, the British Commander in Chief met Sultan Adam Suleiman in 1932, seeking his advice for his knowledge of the best places in terms of availability of water sources and land topography in order to establish the British Administration Headquarter in Darfur. Sultan Adam Suleiman had chosen Nyala city for that purpose. However, many sites of ancient antiquities, pottery, engraved pictures of battles, horses, animals and hunting are still awaiting for further scientific archaeological work at Jebel Daju (see also UNESCO General History of Africa, & Arckell, A.J. History of Darfur 1200-1700 A.D. SNR). The most important archaeological sites undiscovered yet are Nari, Kedingnyir, Dobo, Simiat Hills, Jebel Keima, Kalokitting, Jebel Wara, and Jebel Marra itself.

During the ongoing Darfur conflict, thousands of internally displaced persons have gathered near the city in the hopes of protection. The refugee camp in the southern portion of Nyala is Kalma.

The Amel Center

Run by Mossaad Mohamed Ali Mossaad and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the Amel Center is a treatment and rehabilitation center for victims of torture in Nyala. The center has earned Mossaad and Annan the Olof Palme Prize.

Nyala is in western Sudan (left center).

See also

• Chad - border country near Nyala.
• Lake Nasser - lake at north border of Sudan.
• Railway stations in Sudan
• South Darfur - region Nyala is in

Notes

• Arckell, A.J., History of Darfur 1200-1700 A.D. SNR.
• UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. IV, Abridged Edition: Africa from the Twelfth to the Sixteenth Century (UNESCO General History of Africa) by Joseph Ki-Zerbo and DjiBril Tamsir Niane (Paperback - May 10, 1998) – Abridged.

Coordinates: 12°03′N 24°53′E / 12.05°N 24.883°E / 12.05; 24.883