West Darfur
West Darfur State
ولاية غرب دارفور Gharb Darfor | |
|---|---|
Travelers in West Darfur | |
Location in Sudan. | |
| Coordinates: 12°53′N 22°58′E / 12.883°N 22.967°E | |
| Country | Sudan |
| Region | Darfur |
| Capital | Geneina |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Al-Tijani Karshoum |
| Area | |
• Total | 79,460 km2 (30,680 sq mi) |
| Population (2018) | |
• Total | 1,775,945 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
| HDI (2017) | 0.439 low |
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West Darfur State (Arabic: ولاية غرب دارفور Wilāyat Ḡarb Dārfūr), historically Dar Masalit (Arabic: دار مساليت), is one of the states of Sudan, and one of five comprising the Darfur region. Prior to the creation of two new states in January 2012, it had an area of 79,460 km² and an estimated population of approximately 1,775,945 in 2018. It borders North and Central Darfur to the east. The Chadian prefectures of Biltine and Ouaddaï lie to the west, while to the north is the prefecture of Bourkou-Ennedi-Tibesti. Al-Junaynah is the capital of the state. West Darfur has been the site of much of the Darfur conflict.
During the 2023 Sudan conflict, ethnic violence has been rampant across the region. This has included several Masalit massacres.