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Nile river near Karima, Sudan
Nile river near the town of Karima in Northern State of Sudan.
Image: Bertramz
 

Location map of Suadan. Where in Africa is Sudan?
Location map of Sudan
Sudan Flag
Flag of Sudan
A virtual guide to the formerly largest country in Africa. Sudan was separated in 2011 into Northern Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, with a predominantly Arab population and South Sudan, formerly the southern part of Sudan, now officially the Republic of South Sudan, with a majority population of people with a Black African heritage.

The country is situated in north-eastern Africa, between Egypt to the north and Eritrea, bordering the Red Sea in north east. It is also bordered by Libya in north west, by Chad in west, by the Central African Republic in south west, by South Sudan in south and by Ethiopia in south east, and it shares maritime borders with Saudi Arabia.

Sudan occupies an area of now 1,886,068 kmĀ², it is the 16th largest country in the world, more than five times the size of Germany, or slightly less than one-fifth the size of the USA.

Sudan has a population of 40 million people (in 2015 est.), Capital city is Khartoum, largest city is Omdurman, Sudan's main port is Port Sudan. Spoken languages are Sudanese Arabic, the predominant language in the country, and Beja (Bedawi) spoken along the Red Sea.


Republic of the Sudan


Country Profile




Background:
With the Independence in 1956 problems began for the new republic almost immediately, in the shape of conflict between north and south. Carefully isolated from one another under British rule, the vast cultural differences between these two regions now escalated rapidly, and civil war was imminent.
A military coup, led by General Ibrahim Abboud, overthrew the government in 1958. Parliament was dismissed and martial law was declared, with Abboud as self-proclaimed Prime Minister.
Another coup in 1969, led this time by Colonel Jafaar Mohammed al-Nimeiry, set up government under a revolutionary council. Nimeiry became the Sudan's first elected President in 1972, and signed the Addis Ababa agreement, in an attempt to end strife between north and south. Uneasy peace was maintained for almost a decade and in 1983, Nimeiry was re-elected for a third term of office. His policies for economic recovery were ineffective, however, and unrest grew once more, resulting in Nimeiry's deposition in a bloodless coup in April 1985.

A year of military rule followed, before the rise of a new Mahdi. This was Sadiq al-Mahdi, the great-grandson of Mohammed Ahmad, but, despite many lofty promises of democracy, the new government proved weak and al-Mahdi was deposed in 1989.

His replacement was Lt. General Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, and Sudan was ruled by a 15-member Revolutionary Council. Throughout the 1990s, conditions have deteriorated in the Sudan. Non-Muslim rebels in the south, known as the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) are led by John Garang, a member of the southern Dinka tribe. The war between government and rebels continues, and many of the Sudanese people are displaced refugees, while many others are faced with economic ruin and the threat of starvation.

The northern opposition under the umbrella of the "National Democratic Alliance" (NDA), including the SPLM, had also took up arms against al-Bashir rule and occupied territories in eastern Sudan and northern Blue Nile.

In January 2005 the Sudan government has signed a preliminary peace agreement with the main opposition umbrella group, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years, ater which, a referendum for independence is scheduled to be held.

A separate conflict, which broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, has displaced nearly 2 million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths.
(Source: ArabNet and others)

Sudan is a member state of the League of Arab States
 
 


Official Name:
Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
short form: As-Sudan
int'l long form: Sudan
int'l short form: Republic of the Sudan
former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

ISO Country Code: sd

Country Calling Code: +249

Capital City: Khartoum (pop. 1.4 million)

Other Cities: Omdurman (2.1 million), Port Sudan (pop. 450 000), Kassala, Kosti,
Juba, the capital of southern region.


Government:
Type: Provisional Government established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005.
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from the UK).

Geography:
Location: North-eastern Africa, south of Egypt, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea.
Area: 2.5 million km² (965,255 sq. mi.); North and South Sudan.
Terrain: Generally flat with mountains in east and west. The southern regions are inundated during the annual floods of the Nile River system.

Climate: Desert and savanna in the north and central regions and tropical in the south.

People:
Nationality: Sudanese
Population: 40 million (in 2015)
Ethnic Groups: Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, and Fallata.
Religions: Sunni Islam (official), small Christian minority.
Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur, English.
Literacy: 76% (est)

Natural resources: Petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower.

Agriculture products: Cotton, groundnuts, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock.

Industries: Oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly.

Exports - commodities: gold; oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, peanuts, gum Arabic, sugar.

Exports - partners: UAE 32%, China 16.2%, Saudi Arabia 15.5%, Australia 4.7%, India 4.2% (2015)

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment, medicines, chemicals, textiles, wheat.

Imports - partners: China 26.4%, UAE 10.1%, India 9.1%, Egypt 5.6%, Turkey 4.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.4% (2015)

Currency: Sudanese Pound (SDG), 1 Pound=100 Piaster (or qirush) replaces the Sudanese Dinar (SDD);

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Official Sites of Sudan

Presidency
Official website of Omar Al-Bashir.

Council of Ministers
Government site (in Arabic).

Ministry of the Federal Government
Government web site (in Arabic).

Sudan Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
The official site of the ministry (in Arabic).

 Sudan Government
Sudan's National Government Bodies and Ministries.

Diplomatic Missions:
Botschaft der Republik Sudan
Sudan embassy in Germany (in German and Arabic).
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
Washington, USA
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan London
Sudan's embassy in the UK.

Statisticss
Central Bureau of Statistics
Statistical figures (in Arabic and English)

Maps

profile Map of Sudan
Political Map of Sudan.
profile Administrative Map of Sudan
Map showing the states of Sudan.
profile Topographic Map of Sudan
Map showing the topographical features of Sudan.

Google Earth Google Earth Sudan
Searchable map/satellite view of Sudan.
Google Earth Google Earth Khartoum
Searchable map/satellite view of Sudan's capital city.
Google Earth Google Earth Port Sudan
Searchable map/satellite view of Sudan's major port.
Google Earth Google Earth Abyei
Searchable map/satellite view of the disputed town in Abyei region.
Google Earth Google Earth Juba
Searchable map/satellite view of South Sudan's capital.

Map of the Red Sea
Political and topographic map of the Red Sea.
Map of Northern Africa and the Middle East
Political Map of of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East.
Political Map of Africa
The 54 countries of Africa.
Map of Africa
A Relief Map of Africa.
 

Sudan News


Sudan ranks deep down at the bottom in the Reporters Without Borders annual press freedom index. Sudanese security (NISS) confiscates routinely copies of Sudanese newspapers.

Sudanese Media Centre
Believed to be run by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

Al-Jareeda
A major Khartoum based Sudanese newspaper.

Al Rayaam
Oldest newspaper in Sudan (dead link)

Alsahafah
Daily news (dead link)

South Sudan
Juba Monitor
Scattered news from Sudan.

International News Sources
SudanTribune
News and views information site on Sudan (based in Paris).

IRINnews: Africa
News provided by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Radio/TV
Sudanese Radio & TV Corporation
The state-run Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation (SNBC)

Miraya FM
Private radio operated by UN mission, broadcasts from Juba the southern capital.
 

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Arts & Culture


Shibrain Art Centre
Sudan's first art and design gallery, Khartoum.
 

Business & Economy


Bank of Sudan
The Central Bank of Sudan
Bank of Khartoum
Biggest Bank in Sudan.

Sudan Invest
The Investment Authority is responsible for setting up advertising and publicity campaigns for investment in Sudan.

Sudanese Petroleum Corporation
SPC controls oil and gas operations in Sudan.

Sudanese Products
Gum Arabic Company
The largest exporter of Gum Arabic in the world.

Kenana Sugar Company
Cane Sugar Estate and Factory, the largest single integrated producer of white sugar in the world.
 
 
Travel and Tour Consumer Information


Destination Sudan - Travel and Tour Guides

Discover Sudan: accommodation, hotels, events, tourism, and more.


Tourism In Sudan
Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan provides some information about tourism in the country.


Michael's Sudan Page
Private page about Sudan.
 

Education

Ahfad University for Women
A private, non-sectarian university for women located in Omdurman, Sudan, founded in 1966.
Sudan University Of Science And Technology
Largest institution of technology in Sudan.
University of Gezira
Information about the University (ARABIC).
University of Khartoum
Founded in 1902 as Gordon Memorial College.
 
 

Environment & Nature

Current issues:
Inadequate supplies of potable water;
Soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought.
Wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting;

Aquastat: Sudan
FAO's Information System on Water and Agriculture in Sudan.
 
 

History



Nubia
The earliest kingdoms and civilisations south of the Sahara.

History Of The Sudan
Page of the Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan about the history of the country.

History of Sudan
Wikipedia entry about Sudan's history.
 
 

Additional Information about Sudan


Reuters AlertNet - Sudan related news

BBC Country Profile: Sudan

FAO in Sudan
Food and Agriculture Information by the Organization of the United Nations about Sudan.

Freedom House Sudan
Freedom House reports about Sudan.

GlobalEDGE: Sudan

GlobalEDGE Sudan Country Profile.

Human Rights Watch: Sudan
Human Rights Watch information about Sudan.

OEC: Sudan
The Observatory of Economic Complexity provides economic information about Sudan.

Sudan Info

Africa South of Sahara (Karen Fung) Sudan

United Nations Development Programme in Sudan

Wikipedia: Sudan
The World Factbook -- Sudan
 
 Support UNICEF

Other Countries of Northern Africa
Algeria | Egypt | Libya | Morocco | Sudan | Tunisia | Western Sahara
 
 
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