Sudan

Full name of country: Republic of the Sudan

Region: Africa

Official language: Arabic, English

Population: 50,467,278 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Sudanese (singular and plural) (noun), Sudanese (adjective)

Capital: Khartoum

National anthem: "Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land), by Sayed Ahmad Muhammad Salih/Ahmad Murjan

National holiday: Independence Day, January 1 (1956)

Population growth: 2.55% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +3

Flag: The flag of Sudan consists of three horizontal bands of red, white, and black, and a green isosceles triangle. The base of the triangle rests against the hoist (left) side of the flag, and its tip reaches almost halfway across the flag’s width. The flag’s colors symbolize freedom (red), peace (white), the people of Sudan (black; Sudan means black in Arabic), and Islam (green).

Motto: “An-Nasar Lina” (Victory is Ours)

Independence: January 1, 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)

Government type: presidential republic ruled by a joint military and civilian Sovereignty Council following a coup in April 2019; previously a federal republic ruled by the National Congress Party (NCP), which seized power by military coup in 1989; the CPA-mandated Government of National Unity, which between 2005 and 2011 provided a percentage of leadership posts to the southern Sudan-based Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), was disbanded following the secession of South Sudan

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal

Legal system: based on a mixture of Islamic law and English common law

Located in northeastern Africa, the Republic of the Sudan was the largest country on the African continent until July 2011, when the southern part of the country seceded to form the Republic of South Sudan. In the early twentieth century, Sudan was jointly administered by the United Kingdom and Egypt, from which it gained its independence in 1956. The decades that followed were marked by civil conflict between the Arab-dominated north and African rebel factions in the south, who sought their independence in one of the longest and bloodiest wars in Africa.

Sudan is widely seen as a supporter of international terrorism and has thus gone through periods of isolation from the international community. In 2004, reports of government-backed genocide in the western province of Darfur surfaced. Despite international outcry, little progress has been made in bringing the violence and refugee crisis to an end. In 2019, however, pro-democracy protests brought about the end of the thirty-year military dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir, raising hopes for a transition to democracy in Sudan. However, a series of coups between 2019 and 2021 resulted in a military takeover which, after a brief state of emergency, ended with the return of civilian government in late 2021.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.”

People and Culture

Population: Sudan's population is young and growing, but it is impeded by a high infant mortality rate (40.6 deaths per 1,000 live births) and low life expectancy (65.5 years for men and 70.2 years for women) (202 estimates). One of the poorest countries in the world, Sudan was ranked 170 out of 193 countries on the 2022 United Nations Human Development Index, which measures quality-of-life indicators.

Sudan's population is concentrated along the Nile and its tributaries, particularly where the White and Blue Niles meet; the northern reaches are the least populated region. An estimated 36.3 percent of the population live in urban areas; Khartoum is the largest city, with a population of around 6.344 million. Other large urban centers are Nyala (pop. 1.057 million), Port Sudan, and El-Obeid (also spelled Al-Ubayyid) (2023 estimates).

Approximately 70 percent of the population are Sudanese Arabs. The remaining 30 percent consists of various Indigenous African peoples, including the Fur people, who predominate in the west, particularly Darfur; the Beja people, who live primarily in the Eastern Desert; the various Nuba peoples, who mainly live in the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan; and the Fallata (Fula) people, typically cattle herders who occupy the savanna regions. Many Sudanese Arabs are of mixed African and Arab descent.

Arabic is the dominant language of northern and central Sudan, and the government has attempted to expand this dominance to all Sudanese people. Commonly spoken unofficial languages include Nubian, Beja, Fur, and the numerous Nilotic languages of the southern tribes. English is the country’s other official language.

Islam is the religion with the most influence in Sudan, with a majority of the population identifying as Sunni Muslim. Islam predominates in Sudan’s government as well. There is a small Christian population.

Indigenous People: Traditionally, tensions between Arabs and Black Africans have been strong in Sudan. Fearing Arabic and Islamic influence from the north, southerners formed the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in 1983 with the intention of achieving independence. The resulting long-running civil war resulted in millions of casualties, destroyed property, and displaced people. Though South Sudan became an independent nation in July 2011, continued recovery from the civil war required enormous relief efforts. Similar tensions between Arabs and Black Africans contributed to the long-running crisis in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

Slavery has long been a traditional practice in Sudan, though precise figures for its modern manifestation are unavailable. Nevertheless, it is known that people from the southern tribes have been captured and enslaved by northerners.

Education: Basic education, which is free and compulsory, starts at age six in Sudan and lasts for eight years. It is followed by secondary school, which lasts for three years. Schools are mostly located in towns and cities.

Arabic is the language of instruction, and elements of Islamic faith and culture are integral to the curriculum, which has met with controversy among non-Muslims. The adult literacy rate is 60.7 percent, higher among men (65.4 percent) than among women (56.1 percent) (2018 estimates).

Of Sudan's numerous universities, the largest and most prestigious are located in the north, particularly in Khartoum. The University of Khartoum is the largest and oldest university in Sudan.

Health Care: Sudan's health care system is very basic and does not meet the needs of the population. Even in more developed areas, such as the urban areas of the north, there are shortages of facilities, supplies, and trained personnel. Though medicine and medical treatment are nominally free, the government spends only a fraction of its budget on health care.

War, unclean drinking water, poor sanitation, famine, and childhood malnutrition continue to negatively impact the health of Sudanese people. Preventable diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, diarrheal illnesses, typhoid, meningitis, and hepatitis are common; the number of HIV/AIDS cases is also high. Traditional medicine is the only recourse for many poor, rural people.

Food: Sudan's distinct cuisine differs from region to region, but several dishes have become common throughout the country. The main bread staple is called kisra, a type of flat bread generally made of corn and used to eat various stews prepared with meat and vegetables.

Soups and porridges, such as asseeda, are also typical dishes. Unique components of some stews and soups include peanut butter, dates, and offal.

Arts & Entertainment: Among Arab Muslims, the Qur’an is the single most important work of literature. It has influenced the classical language, the legal system, social interactions, and artistic expression, which generally entails geometric decorations and calligraphy. Carvings, leather goods, and clothing are a few of the traditional crafts produced in the country.

Music and dancing occupy a central position in Sudanese culture. The music showcases the country's complex heritage, with the influence of both Arabic and African traditions.

Football (soccer) is the most widely played sport in Sudan.

Holidays: The most important holidays in Sudan are religious. The significant Islamic holidays are Ramadan, the month of dusk-to-dawn fasting; Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan; and Eid al-Adha, which commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God. Muslims also celebrate Al-Mawlid Al-Nabawi Al-Sharif, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. These holidays often entail feasts, gatherings of family and friends, and the distribution of food and alms to the poor. Christian holidays accord with the Eastern Orthodox calendar. Sudanese Independence Day is observed on January 1, and Sham Al Maseem, marking the beginning of spring, is celebrated in April.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Sudan borders Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Libya. The Red Sea forms part of its eastern border.

Low mountains ring the Nile basin, which accounts for most of Sudan's area. The northern region is otherwise dominated by desert: the Nubian Desert to the east of the Nile, and the Libyan Desert to its west. Savanna begins on the fertile central plains and transitions into swampland known as the Sudd region.

The Nile River and its tributaries extend the length of Sudan for 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles). It consists of the Blue Nile, the source of which is in Ethiopia, and the White Nile, the source of which is in Uganda. These rivers then meet in Khartoum to form the Nile, which flows northward into Egypt. The Atbarah is the Nile's most important tributary.

Natural Resources: Oil is Sudan's most valuable natural resource. Deposits of gold, chromium, copper, iron ore, zinc, silver, tungsten, and talc are also present. The Nile River is a significant source of hydropower; dams produce 66 percent of the country's electricity. The Nile also creates fertile areas that allow for extensive cultivation.

Lack of safe drinking water and desertification are two of the most pressing environmental problems in Sudan. The process of desertification has sped up because of overgrazing, poor agricultural practices which have degraded the soil, and the use of wood as a fuel supply by a large portion of the population. Moreover, an estimated 1 million landmines are scattered throughout the country, endangering both humans and wildlife.

Plants & Animals: Most of Sudan's plant and animal life is found on the savannah-like central plains and in the south. Rivers support trees such as the acacia, ebony, baobab, and mahogany. Crocodiles and hippopotamuses inhabit the rivers while lions, rhinoceroses, zebras, and antelopes inhabit the savannah. Equatorial forests are home to leopards and monkeys as well as reptiles, birds, and insects.

Endangered or vulnerable species include the African wild ass, the chimpanzee, several types of gazelle, Grevy's zebra, the African elephant, and the cheetah.

Climate: The northern desert, the central plains have distinct climatic conditions. In the arid desert areas, rainfall is low, winters are cool, and summers are hot. In the central plains, it is also hot and rainy. Nearly all of the precipitation occurs during the rainy season between June and September, which is brought by winds from the Congo River Basin.

Dust storms are common on the central plains and in the north before the onset of the rainy season. Should the winds fail or come late, severe droughts can occur. Drought can destroy the agricultural season of the central plains, causing famine. During the rainy season, the Nile and its tributaries can also flood, destroying property and displacing people who live nearby.

Economy

The Sudanese economy began to improve in the late 1990s and continues to show positive growth, largely due to oil production. It has yet to fully overcome decades of poor economic policies, enormous foreign debts and costly civil conflicts; it has been estimated that, at its height, the civil war cost the government $1 million a day.

The gross domestic product (GDP, purchasing power parity) was estimated at US$136.039 billion, or US$2,800 per capita, in 2023, and the unemployment rate was estimated at 11.45 percent. About 46.5 percent lived below the national poverty line in 2009. Those living along the Nile corridor are more prosperous than those living in regions that do not have ready access to the river.

Industry: The industrial sector in Sudan continues to face development challenges. Oil exports are the single most important product of the economy. Other exports include gold, cotton, livestock, and agricultural products.

Light industry mostly depends on the products of the agricultural sector, such as sugarcane and cotton. However, manufacturing is growing, and now includes cement, soap, textiles and shoes, weapons, and automotive assembly.

Agriculture: Agriculture is central to the Sudanese economy but is prone to drought. Cotton is the major cash crop. Grains, root crops, peanuts, sugarcane, tropical fruits, and gum arabic are also important.

Forests are exploited for timber, and charcoal is an important by-product. Sheep, goats, cattle, camels, and poultry are the most common forms of livestock and are kept in large numbers. The country's rivers and Red Sea coast are commonly exploited for fish.

Tourism: Ongoing warfare and a destroyed and undeveloped infrastructure have restricted Sudan from realizing its potential as a tourist destination.

Nonetheless, archaeological sites in Sudan draw some visitors. These include the ruins of the ancient kingdom of Meroe and numerous ruins from the Pharaonic period. Many of the artifacts are exhibited in museums in Khartoum. The National Museum, the National History Museum, and the Ethnographical Museum have the most extensive collections.

Government

Since winning its independence from the United Kingdom and Egypt in 1956, Sudan has undergone decades of turmoil marked by coups, autocratic governments, and a lengthy civil war. It has also experienced strained ties with its neighbors and in the international community for its ostensible support of terrorists.

South Sudan was granted autonomous status in January 2011 as part of a peace agreement between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the government. That July, the South Sudanese voted for full independence and seceded. The conflict in Darfur, where it is thought that the government has backed Arab militias against African rebels, had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced more than two million people by 2015.

The executive branch of the Republic of the Sudan is headed by a president, who serves as both chief of state and head of government. The president is directly elected by popular vote to five-year terms. Responsibilities include the appointment of local governors and the cabinet. The position of prime minister was reinstated in December 2016.

The legislative branch is a bicameral legislature consisting of the National Assembly (Majlis Watani) and the Council of States (Majlis al-Wilayat). The National Assembly consists of 426 members, of whom 213 are elected by popular vote and the rest by proportional representation. The Council of States has fifty members elected by state legislatures. Terms for all legislators are six years.

Sudan's legal system is based in part on sharia law, but it is inconsistently applied. Sharia courts mainly handle cases involving personal rights of Muslim citizens. The civil judicial system is headed by the National Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, the latter of which is outside the national judiciary.

Sudan is divided into eighteen states, each presided over by a governor. The central government maintains tight control of the local governments, particularly in the northern states.

Though political parties are allowed to function, they must be approved by the government and follow strict guidelines meant to preserve the status quo. Among those that are active are the National Congress Party, the Popular Congress Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, and the National Umma Party.

In April 2019, a coup removed President Omar Hassam Ahmad al-Bashir from office after thirty years of authoritarian rule. In May 2019, the government was controlled by the Transitional Military Council, which negotiated with a civilian opposition coalition to create an interim government in August 2019 called the Sovereignty Council. The council, consisting of six civilians and five generals, was to transition to civilian leadership after the May 2021 elections. Civilian rule returned to Sudan in November 2021 upon the installment of Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, although it was believed that the military still retained some form of control. Then, in early 2022, Hamdok stepped down following a period of prolonged protests over his rule. By June 2023, General Abd-al-Fatah al-Burhan Abd-al- Rahman served as the de facto head of state and government.

Interesting Facts

• Many ancient monuments from northern Sudan had to be dismantled and reconstructed elsewhere to save them from the flooding caused by the creation of Lake Nasser when the Aswan High Dam was built in Egypt in the 1960s.
• Sudan is the world's top producer of gum arabic, also known as acacia gum.
• Prior to the secession of South Sudan in 2011, Sudan was the largest country in Africa; now, it is the third largest, after Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• In 2016, Sudan's Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay—Mukkawar Island Marine National Park, home to a highly diverse ecosystem, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bibliography

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"Sudan." The World Bank, data.worldbank.org/country/sudan. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

"Sudan." World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples, Minority Rights Group International, June 2018, minorityrights.org/country/sudan/. Accessed 11 July 2018.

"Sudan." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 29 Dec. 2024, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sudan/. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

"Sudan Country Profile." BBC News, 13 Sept. 2023, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14094995. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

"Sudan—Post-Secession." Education Policy and Data Center, FHI 360, Sept. 2012, www.epdc.org/country/sudan. Accessed 11 July 2018.