Ramciel
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{update|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ramciel
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| pushpin_map = South Sudan
| pushpin_label_position = Map of South Sudan showing the location of Ramciel.
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| coordinates = {{coord|6|23|48.57|N|30|56|4.18|E|display=inline,title}}
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|South Sudan}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Lakes State
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = Yirol East County
| subdivision_type3 = Malek Payam
| subdivision_name3 = Thiaan Boma
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Ramciel is located in Yirol East County, in Lakes States, in the Bahr el Ghazal region of South Sudan. It has been proposed to be the future national capital.
Geography
Ramciel is about {{convert|250|km|mi|round=5|abbr=off}} north of Juba. There is currently no tarmacked road between Juba and Ramciel, but it is estimated that it will take under three hours to travel on a rough road to Juba. Under ideal conditions, it would also probably take about three hours to travel to Rumbek and up to six hours to Wau from Ramciel.
The largest grass swamp in the world, the Sudd, lies in the middle of Greater Bahr el Ghazal and Greater Upper Nile, thus making direct road communications between towns located at the opposite four corners of the Sudd practically impossible; thus the need to go around the swamp, which currently makes both Malakal and Bentiu inaccessible by road from the south and west in the wet season from June to November.{{cite web|title=What and Where is Ramciel?|url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/5689/What-and-Where-is-Ramciel.aspx|publisher=Gurtong|accessdate=2 June 2012}}
The inhabitants of Ramciel are mainly Dinka Ciec. Ramciel is located in the territory of [[Yirol East County|Thiaan Boma of Malek Payam, Yirol East
county]], Lakes State. The land is used for grazing and cultivation during the dry season and in the Nile marshes during the wet season. There are conflicting reports over its suitability for large-scale construction, with some characterizing the area as woodland & grassland, and others contending that the rocky highlands can support a major city if one were to be built there.
National capital proposal
In early February 2011, what was then the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan adopted a resolution to find a new capital for South Sudan.{{cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-to-establish-a-new,37886|title=South Sudan to establish a new capital city and relocate from Juba after independence|date=6 February 2011|accessdate=24 July 2011|agency=Sudan Tribune}} Ramciel was one of the two proposed locations for the site. Lakes Governor Chol Tong Mayay visited Ramciel later in the month to raise attention for its bid to be the site of the new capital. "The late Dr John Garang promised to build Ramciel as the capital of South Sudan and having it here will be a dream come true."{{cite news|url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/4879/Lakes-Leaders-Visit-Prospective-South-Sudanese-Capital.aspx|agency=Gurtong|date=15 February 2011|accessdate=24 July 2011|title=Lakes Leaders Visit Prospective South Sudanese Capital}} Just prior to South Sudanese independence in July 2011, a government spokesman confirmed the federal government of the country was still considering building a new capital at Ramciel.{{cite news|url=http://mg.co.za/article/2011-07-08-south-sudan-brushes-fear-aside/|agency=Mail & Guardian|title=South Sudan brushes fear aside|date=8 July 2011|accessdate=24 July 2011|first=Sean|last=Christie}} On 2 September, the federal cabinet voted to designate Ramciel as the site for a planned city, to be demarcated from Lakes State. Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the move would likely take three to five years to complete and would be conducted in stages.{{cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-relocates-its-capital,40027|agency=Sudan Tribune|date=3 September 2011|accessdate=3 September 2011|title=South Sudan relocates its capital from Juba to Ramciel}}
Vice President Riek Machar said in mid-December 2011 that the government of South Sudan is planning to build a major international airport in a free trade zone to be established in Tali Payam of Terkeka County which borders Awerial (Aliab) County on the South West approximately 50 km away from Ramciel. Machar suggested that this airport could handle traffic from large cargo planes for which other regional airports are not designed, an asset that would be vital to realising Machar's vision for South Sudan to become a trade hub in the center of the African continent.{{cite news|url=http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid={885bdf02-7b07-45b4-a39d-4d63ac85c7ee}|agency=All Africa Global Media|title=Regional Plan to Make South Sudan the 'Hub' of Sea Ports Shipments in Continent Underway|date=14 December 2011|accessdate=26 December 2011}} Machar also visited Kenisa ( panhom) where port will be constructed.
A contract was awarded in 2012 to conduct a survey and feasibility study of the site.{{cite news | url = http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article42133 | title = Survey of new South Sudan capital Ramciel to complete in six months | date = 5 April 2012 | newspaper = Sudan Tribune | accessdate = 9 April 2015}} The proposed area has been visited multiple times by Vice President Riek Machar.{{Cite news |title=Machar inspects new South Sudan's proposed capital |url=https://sudantribune.com/article41576/ |date=2012-04-08 |access-date=2023-07-13 |work=Sudan Tribune}}