Andrea Debono

Andrea Debono (7 November 1821 – 29 October 1871), also known as Latif Effendi, was a Maltese trader and explorer who was one of the first Europeans to explore the area around the White Nile in the mid-19th century.

Biography Debono was born on 7 November 1821 in Senglea, Malta. He was the son of Michael Debono, a captain of the merchant navy, and his wife Teresa née Carabott. He had a twin sister named Battistina. During his youth, Debono studied medicine and chemistry. At this point he also began exploring the Nile, and he was the first European to explore the Sobat River tributary of the White Nile, reaching the cataracts beyond Gondokoro. He reached the Djiamoudj rapids in April 1853, acquiring knowledge of Lake Albert and the Semliki River. He made a journey to the mouth of the Sobat in 1854–1855 together with his wife, his son and later his agent Philippe Terranuova. At one point, their boats were grounded for six months due to the dry season and they were threatened by hostile natives. Samuel Baker wrote, "de Bono's people are the worst of the lot, having utterly destroyed the country." In Khartoum, Consul John Petherick accused Debono and his nephew of involvement in slave trading, and although all charges were later dropped, Debono's reputation was ruined. His health declined after he lost his nephew, and he subsequently sold his property and moved back to Cairo. Debono died there on 29 October 1871 at the age of 49.

A street in his hometown Senglea is named after him.