Any residual effects of development trickling out of the booming Southern Sudanese capital of Juba seem to have avoided Terekeka County, Central Equatoria State, located only 51 miles away.

Home to the Mundari tribe, Terekeka ("the forgotten" in local dialect) continues to suffer high illiteracy levels, poor roads, dilapidated buildings and rife insecurity.

"The rate of literacy is less than 20 per cent," said Terekeka County Education Director Abdullagadir Juma. "Some parents do not want their children to go to school, but to look after animals."

Some 6,000 children who actually enrolled in the county's 49 primary schools in 2010 had the benefit of only 52 teachers. "We badly lack teachers. I have to go in the morning to teach and come back in the afternoon to do office work," Mr. Juma said.

Classroom space and furniture are also sadly inadequate, according to Gideon Vitale, an English teacher at Terekeka Basic School. "A single class accommodates over 80 students. There are no chairs, some students sit on the floor and others on window (sills)...this makes their work untidy and illegible."

Only four of the 49 schools had been rehabilitated and many others desperately need a face lift.

Once out of primary school, children have a choice of only two secondary institutions, graced with only five teachers. Total attendance in 2010 for both came to no more than 300 students.

The county's ministry of education is ill-equipped, lacking basic modern equipment like computers. "When the state ministry of education in Juba receives hand-typed documents, they already know without thinking that these are Terekeka County's," Mr. Juma said.

Despite these setbacks, Terekeka performed well in this year's Sudan School Certificate, noted Mr. Juma. St. Mary's Secondary School was among the top 10 in the south.

Economically challenged

Students graduating from Terekeka schools are met with a less than thriving business environment when they enter the job market.

Economic growth in the county has been greatly hampered by the overdependence of Southern Sudan on imported commodities from the capital Juba, the north and neighbouring countries.

Traders' Union Information Director Joseph Malarapie noted that it took eight days to bring goods from Khartoum to Terekeka by road, reducing turnover. "We buy a 50-kilogram bag of sugar from Juba at 150 SDG ($70), and transport plus taxes brings the cost to 179 SDG ($76). Yet we sell it for 180 SDG ($76.1). Is there any profit?"

Another hindrance to area finances is the lack of banks, vital in any developing economy. "If you work here, you have to devise your own avenues of keeping your money safe," Mr. Malarapie said.

The hospitality sector is also faring poorly, with some hotels struggling for days without a single guest.

"Sometimes we go a week or so without customers. Nonetheless, we charge customers only 20 SDG ($9) per night," said Naivasha Hotel Acting Manager Moses Kenyi.

Limiting communications to the area, Terekeka receives no radio signals.

"The referendum (on whether Southern Sudan will continue unity with the north or secede) is at our door, but we do not have any radio station airing in the area," said Mr. Juma. "How do we get information about what is going on in Southern Sudan?"

Raiding and looting

While towns lack basic economic necessities, insecurity hampers development in Terekeka's rural areas.

"It is now six years since the signing of Sudan's peace accord, yet the Dinka Bor of Jonglei State and Dinka Alyap of Lakes State continue raiding cattle," said Terekeka Paramount Chief Alifons Modi Lodu.

Firearms had been collected from his people last year, but the Dinka were still armed, the chief said. "They are a threat because we cannot fight back in defence."

A government-sponsored civilian disarmament exercise was carried out in 2009 in Terekeka, leaving residents powerless in the face of attack.

"More than 80 people have died since January, around 10,000 cattle have been looted, and about 4,000 people have been internally displaced, mainly from Muni, Tombek, and Zemeza payams," Mr. Modi said.

In July, Matheo Lumangat, an internally displaced person (IDP) from Tombek Payam now residing at Terekeka internally displaced person (IDP) camp, was shot in his right arm after the Dinka Alyap attacked police who were returning stolen cattle.

"I wasshot by the Dinka Alyap," said the elderly man. "My child was shot dead in that incident. I was just praying in the church, and I don't know why they shot us."

Santina Nyandik Mayo, a widow and mother of six, also fled Tombek Payam, two years ago. "We were chased by the Dinka in 2008; they wanted to kill us, so we ran away."