Sudan

Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Libya to the northwest, Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the southeast, and South Sudan to the south. Sudan is Africa's third-largest country by area. Its capital and largest city is Khartoum.

The land now known as Sudan has a long history, with ancient cultures and kingdoms such as the Khormusan, Kingdom of Kerma, and Kingdom of Kush thriving thousands of years ago. Sudan gained independence from British and Egyptian rule on 1 January 1956. Since then, the country has faced many challenges, including civil wars and political changes. Despite these difficulties, Sudan remains an important part of Africa, with rich cultural heritage and natural resources. Today, Sudan is working to build a stable future while dealing with economic and social issues.

Etymology

The name Sudan comes from a old word for a big area in West Africa. It means "The Land of the Blacks" in Arabic, because of the dark skin of the people who lived there. Long ago, ancient Egyptians called this place Nubia.

Since 2011, some people call this country North Sudan to tell it apart from its neighbor, South Sudan.

History

Main article: History of Sudan

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Sudanese history.

Prehistoric Sudan (before c. 8000 BC)

Affad 23 is an archaeological site in northern Sudan. It shows old camps and tools used by early humans over 50,000 years ago. By around 8000 BC, people lived in villages, farming and herding animals along the Nile River.

Kerma culture (2500–1500 BC)

The Kerma culture was an early civilization in Sudan, living from about 2500 BC to 1500 BC. It was centered in Kerma and became a big empire, rivaling nearby Egypt.

Egyptian Nubia (1504–780 BC)

Egyptian rulers took control of Nubia, including Kerma, around 1504 BC. Nubia became part of the Egyptian empire but kept its own traditions and culture.

Kingdom of Kush (c. 780 BC–350 AD)

The Kingdom of Kush began after Egypt's New Kingdom weakened. It was centered around the Nile, ruled parts of Egypt, and built its own unique culture, including pyramids.

Medieval Christian Nubian kingdoms (c. 350–1500)

From around the 5th century, Nubia had three Christian kingdoms: Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia. These kingdoms turned to Christianity and grew culturally, creating their own alphabets and art.

Islamic kingdoms of Sennar and Darfur (c. 1500–1820)

In the 1500s, new Islamic kingdoms like Sennar and Darfur appeared. These kingdoms mixed Islamic and local traditions and ruled Sudan until the early 1800s.

Turco-Egyptian Sudan and Mahdist Sudan (1820–1899)

In 1821, Egypt invaded Sudan, starting a time of Egyptian and later British rule. This control was opposed by a religious and military movement led by Muhammad Ahmad, known as the Mahdi, which made an independent state called the Mahdiyah.

Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1899–1956)

From 1899 to 1956, Sudan was ruled together by Britain and Egypt. In this time, infrastructure got better, but people in Sudan wanted independence, which caused tension.

Independence (1956–present)

Sudan became independent in 1956. Since then, it has had military takeovers, civil wars, and political problems. Work continues to build stable democratic government, but there are still challenges.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Sudan

Sudan is a big country in North Africa. It has a coastline along the Red Sea. It borders Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Libya. It is the third-largest country in Africa. It covers 1,886,068 km² (728,215 sq mi).

The land in Sudan is mostly flat with some mountains. The Blue Nile and White Nile rivers meet in the capital city, Khartoum, and flow north to Egypt. Sudan has valuable minerals like gold, iron, and petroleum.

Government and politics

Main articles: Politics of Sudan, Government of Sudan, and Cabinet of Sudan

Sudan has had many changes in its government and politics. The last election was in 2015. Until 2019, Sudan was ruled as a federal authoritarian Islamic republic. That year, President Omar al-Bashir was removed in a military change led by Vice President Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf. A Transitional Military Council was created to lead the country. After some changes, a new agreement was signed in August 2019. This led to a Transitional Sovereignty Council and a civilian Prime Minister.

Sudan is one of the less democratic countries in Africa. In 2025, during a civil war, a rival government was set up by the Rapid Support Forces to control some areas.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: States of Sudan, List of current state governors in Sudan, and Districts of Sudan

Sudan is divided into 18 states, which are split into 133 districts. The states are:

• Gezira
• Al Qadarif
• Blue Nile
• Central Darfur
• East Darfur
• Kassala
• Khartoum
• North Darfur
• North Kordofan
• Northern
• Red Sea
• River Nile
• Sennar
• South Darfur
• South Kordofan
• West Darfur
• West Kordofan
• White Nile

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Sudan

Sudan has had complicated ties with its neighbors and the world. For many years, it was listed as supporting terrorism by the United States. Sudan has been part of conflicts and peace efforts, including the Second Sudanese Civil War and the war in Darfur.

In 2020, Sudan improved its relations with Israel through the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords. However, there are still tensions, especially with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Military

The Sudanese Armed Forces include the army, navy, air force, border patrol, and internal affairs defence force. The military has been part of several conflicts.

Human rights

Main articles: Human rights in Sudan, Freedom of religion in Sudan, and Child marriage in Sudan

Sudan has faced challenges with human rights. There have been issues with freedom of religion, women's rights, and the rights of children. Problems have been reported in places like Darfur, southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile. International groups have asked for accountability for these issues.

Freedom of speech

See also: Media of Sudan § Legal framework and censorship

In the past, Sudan's media had many limits. After some changes in 2019, freedom of the press improved briefly. But later coups and the civil war caused limits again. Journalists have been arrested, and the internet has been closed to control information.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Sudan

See also: Telecommunications in Sudan and Transport in Sudan

Sudan's economy has changed a lot over the years. In the early 2010s, it grew fast because of oil money. But when South Sudan became independent, it took most of Sudan's oil fields. This made Sudan's economy worse, with slower growth and high prices.

Even with oil, Sudan still had many problems. Today, most people work in farming, but the country still faces issues like unfair government and not enough food. Sudan ranks low in human development, and many people are poor. The International Monetary Fund is helping Sudan's government with its economy.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Sudan

See also: List of cities in Sudan

Sudan has a large population. It grew from about 22 million in 1983 to around 50 million today. Many people in Sudan come from different backgrounds. The largest group is Arab, making up about 70% of the people. They mainly speak Sudanese Arabic and follow Islam.

Sudan is also home to many refugees from nearby countries, such as South Sudan, Eritrea, and Syria. There are many ethnic groups, including the Beja, Fur, Nubians, and Nuba. Each group has its own languages and traditions. Arabic and English are the official languages of Sudan. Most people practice Islam, but there are also Christian communities, including Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox.

Culture

Sudanese culture is a mix of traditions from many different groups of people who speak many languages. The country has a rich musical history, with influences from both traditional African sounds and European styles. Music has faced challenges over the years but continues to be an important part of Sudanese life.

Football is very popular in Sudan, and the country has both men’s and women’s national teams. Other sports like beach volleyball and wrestling are also growing in popularity. Traditional clothing, such as the jalabiya for men and the thobe for women, is widely worn, though styles can vary with the seasons and personal taste.