Malakal: History
Historically, Malakal was founded by the Kuei family and known as the former Sobat District. The town of Malakal started as a tiny District administrative unit which later expanded into a big town, becoming the capital city of the Upper Nile State (since 2020). It was also the capital of the defunct Eastern Nile State and Central Upper Nile State. During the Second Sudanese Civil War, the town was a garrison town of the Khartoum-based Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Following South Sudan's independence on 9 July 2011, the troops from the Republic of Sudan retreated from Malakal. Malakal was the site of the November 2006 Battle of Malakal.
Beginning in 2013, Malakal was the site of numerous battles between government SPLA forces and the Nuer White Army, loosely commanded by the SPLM-IO headed by Riek Machar. The city was overrun on various occasions by both sides. As of October 2015, Malakal had exchanged hands twelve times during the civil war, and was utterly destroyed in the process.
On 14 October 2016, an assault occurred on many government positions in Malakal, leaving 56 Agwelek assailants killed.
On 8 June 2023, clashes broke out at Malakal in a UNMISS-run refugee camp between two different groups of civilians. At least 13 civilians were killed, and 20 more were injured in the clashes.