MALAKAL, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. — In the southern part of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, erected on 10 January 1933 under the name of Kodok with territory detached from the Apostolic Vicariates of Khartum and Bahr el-Ghazal and from the Apostolic Prefecture of Bahr el-Jebel. It was entrusted to the Sons of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (African Missions of Verona), who had been working there since the beginning of the mission, but on 12 August 1938, for political reasons, it had to be transferred to the Mill Hill Missionaries (Society of St Joseph of Mill Hill for Foreign Missions). On 14 July 1949 the name of Kodok was changed to that of M., from the name of the residence of the Ordinary.
The territory is one of the most difficult evangelical fields, because, although inhabited by pagan tribes (Shilluk, Dinka, Nuer, Atwot) who form a preponderant numerical majority (about 695,000 out of 715,000 inhabitants) and among whom a relatively fruitful apostolate might be carried on, not only is the zoning system in force, but it is also under the influence of Islamic government, despite the fact that Muslims are in a small minority (about 15,000). With the recent establishment of the Legislative Council, composed almost exclusively of Muslims, there is talk indeed of political unification also in the use of a single language, Arabic. Thus the missionaries, who have already begun to study the various indigenous languages and to translate catechisms into them, will find themselves faced with new and not easily surmountable difficulties in their relations and teaching among the various tribes.
The prefecture covers an area of 204,800 sq. km., with 712,000 inhabitants, of whom 2,388 are Catholics, distributed in 4 parishes served by 21 diocesan priests, assisted by 4 religious communities of women. It has 6 educational institutions (Ann. Pont., 1951, p. 715).