Sudan

Sudan
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Conventional long name	Republic of the Sudan
Common name	Sudan
Capital	Khartoum
Largest city	Khartoum
Official languages	Arabic
Recognized languages	English
Area km2	1830612
Population estimate	46,000,000
Currency	Sudanese pound
Calling code	+249
Time zone	UTC+2

Sudan is a transcontinental country located in northeastern Africa bordering the Red Sea, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, and Libya. Its capital, Khartoum, sits at the confluence of the Blue Nile and the White Nile, and the country has been central to interactions among ancient civilizations such as Kush and medieval states like the Funj Sultanate and the Sultanate of Darfur. In modern times the territory has been shaped by events including the Mahdist War, the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan condominium, the First Sudanese Civil War, the Second Sudanese Civil War, and the secession of South Sudan.

Etymology and Names

The name "Sudan" derives from the Arabic phrase Bilād as-Sūdān, used in medieval maps alongside regions like Maghreb and Mashriq, and it was adapted in European texts during the Age of Discovery and colonial negotiations such as the Berlin Conference. Historical polities that occupied the same lands include Nubia, Alodia, Makuria, and the Kingdom of Kerma, whose inscriptions and toponyms influenced medieval cartographers and the diplomatic records of the Ottoman Empire and the Muhammad Ali dynasty.

History

Ancient history in the region features the archaeological sites of Nuri (Sudan), Meroe, and Jebel Barkal tied to the Kingdom of Kush and interactions with Ancient Egypt and the Achaemenid Empire. Medieval eras witnessed Christian polities such as Alodia and Islamic states including the Funj Sultanate and the Darfur Sultanate, later encountering the Ottoman–Portuguese conflicts and the expansion of the Turco-Egyptian invasion. The 19th century brought the Mahdist War, the rise of the Mahdist State, and the subsequent 1899 establishment of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan under the influence of Queen Victoria and figures like Lord Kitchener. The 20th century saw the 1956 independence, military coups involving leaders such as Jaafar Nimeiry and Omar al-Bashir, and conflicts manifested in the First Sudanese Civil War, the Second Sudanese Civil War, and the Darfur conflict, culminating in the 2011 independence referendum and creation of South Sudan and later political upheavals including the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir and negotiations involving the African Union, United Nations, and regional actors like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

Geography and Environment

The country spans the Sahara Desert to the north, the Sahel belt, and savanna zones adjoining the East African Rift and the Ethiopian Highlands near Blue Nile Falls. Major landmarks include the Red Sea Hills, the Nile cataracts near Wadi Halfa, and the archaeological landscapes of Jebel Barkal and Meroe Pyramids. Environmental challenges relate to desertification influenced by phenomena like the Sahel droughts, land use changes monitored by United Nations Environment Programme assessments, and water allocation issues tied to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and transboundary Nile water agreements involving Egypt and Ethiopia.

Government and Politics

Political arrangements have alternated among civilian coalitions, military juntas, and transitional councils involving actors such as the Transitional Military Council and the Sovereign Council. International mediation has included missions by the United Nations Mission in Sudan and negotiations brokered by the African Union Commission and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Constitutional developments have referenced models from comparative examples like the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the Interim National Constitution (Iraq), while sanctions and accountability processes have involved institutions such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice in matters relating to alleged war crimes and border disputes.

Economy and Infrastructure

The economic profile encompasses agro-pastoral zones, oil sectors developed with companies like China National Petroleum Corporation and PetroChina, and infrastructure projects such as rail links connecting Khartoum to ports like Port Sudan. Economic shocks followed the 2011 loss of oil revenue after South Sudan secession, prompting reforms influenced by organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Transportation networks intersect with corridors used by Trans-African Highway network routes, while energy plans reference projects similar to Merowe Dam and regional electricity grids connected to Egyptian Electricity Holding Company markets.

Demographics and Society

Population groups include Nubian communities around Wadi Halfa, Beja peoples in eastern regions, Fur populations in Darfur, Nuba peoples in the Nuba Mountains, and Arabized groups across central plains, with migration flows involving refugees from Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Urbanization centers include Omdurman and Port Sudan, and public health interventions have engaged agencies like World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières during outbreaks such as cholera and measles. Humanitarian efforts coordinate with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and NGOs addressing issues arising from conflicts like the Darfur conflict and climate displacement linked to Sahel droughts.

Culture and Education

Cultural heritage blends ancient Nubian, Islamic, and Arab influences seen in sites like the Meroe Pyramids and festivals observed in Khartoum and regional markets of Al Qadarif; artistic expressions include contemporary writers and poets who participate in gatherings like International Festival of Languages and Poetry. Educational institutions include University of Khartoum, Neelain University, and technical colleges that have collaborated with international partners such as UNESCO and the British Council on curriculum and preservation of manuscripts from collections similar to those in Diverse Manuscript Repositories. Music and crafts connect to wider traditions represented at events like the Cultural Festival of Omdurman and exchanges with institutions such as the British Museum and Smithsonian Institution for archaeological and ethnographic research.

Category:Countries in Africa