MALAKAL, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE.—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 Khartoum and Bahr el-Gazal and from the Apostolic Prefecture of Bahr el-Gebel. 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 Society of St. Joseph of Mill Hill for Foreign Missions. On 14 July 1949, the name Kodok was changed to that of M., after the place of residence of the Ordinary.
The territory is one of the most difficult fields for evangelization because, although inhabited by pagan tribes (Shiluk, Dinka, Nuez, Altezi), which constitute a vast numerical majority (approximately 695,000 out of 715,000 inhabitants) and among whom a relatively fruitful apostolate might be carried out, not only is the “zonal system” in force there, but it is also under Islamic governmental influence, despite the fact that the Muslims are a small minority (approximately 15,000). With the recent establishment of the Indigenous Legislative Council, composed almost exclusively of Muslims, there is even talk of political unification, including the use of a single language, Arabic. Thus the missionaries, who have already devoted themselves to studying the various indigenous languages and to translating the catechisms into them, will face new and not easily surmountable difficulties in their relations with and instruction of the various tribes.
The prefecture covers an area of 204,800 sq. km., with 712,000 inhabitants, of whom 2,388 are Catholics, distributed among 4 parishes served by 21 diocesan priests, assisted by 4 women’s religious communities. It has 6 educational institutions (Ann. Pont., 1951, p. 715).