Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than 4 million people displaced and, according to rebel estimates, more than 2 million deaths over a period of two decades. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with the signing of several accords. The final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years. After 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. As of late 2006, peacekeeping troops were struggling to stabilize the situation, which has become increasingly regional in scope, and has brought instability to eastern Chad, and Sudanese incursions into the Central African Republic. Sudan also has faced large refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia and Chad. Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of government support have chronically obstructed the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.
Location
Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total
2,505,810 sq km
land
2.376 million sq km
water
129,810 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries
total
7,687 km
border countries
Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km
Coastline
853 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
contiguous zone
18 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Terrain
generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south, northeast and west; desert dominates the north
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Red Sea 0 m
highest point
Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources
petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Land use
arable land
6.78%
permanent crops
0.17%
other
93.05% (2005)
Irrigated land
18,630 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Environment - current issues
Environment - international agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
Population
39,379,358 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
41.6% (male 8,371,628/female 8,016,880)
15-64 years
56% (male 11,080,025/female 10,956,458)
65 years and over
2.4% (male 504,957/female 449,410) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
18.7 years
male
18.6 years
female
18.9 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.082% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
34.86 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
14.39 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.044 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.011 male(s)/female
65 years and over
1.124 male(s)/female
total population
1.027 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
91.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male
91.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female
91.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
49.11 years
male
48.24 years
female
50.03 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.69 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
2.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
400,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
23,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk
very high
food or waterborne diseases
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases
malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations
water contact disease
schistosomiasis
respiratory disease
meningococcal meningitis
note
highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)
Nationality
noun
Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective
Sudanese
Ethnic groups
black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions
Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%
Languages
Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
note: program of "Arabization" in process
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
61.1%
male
71.8%
female
50.5% (2003 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form
Sudan
local long form
Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form
As-Sudan
former
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Government type
Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in 1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national elections for the 2008 - 2009 timeframe.
Capital
name
Khartoum
geographic coordinates
15 36 N, 32 32 E
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
25 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile), Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrat (Lakes), Al Jazirah (El Gezira), Al Khartum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), Al Wahdah (Unity), An Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile), Ash Shamaliyah (Northern), Bahr al Jabal (Bahr al Jabal), Gharb al Istiwa'iyah (Western Equatoria), Gharb Bahr al Ghazal (Western Bahr al Ghazal), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Janub Darfur (Southern Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Junqali (Jonglei), Kassala (Kassala), Nahr an Nil (Nile), Shamal Bahr al Ghazal (Northern Bahr al Ghazal), Shamal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shamal Kurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sharq al Istiwa'iyah (Eastern Equatoria), Sinnar (Sinnar), Warab (Warab)
Independence
1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution
constitution implemented on 30 June 1998, partially suspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR; under the CPA, Interim National Constitution ratified 5 July 2005; Constitution of Southern Sudan signed December 2005
Legal system
based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; however, the CPA establishes some protections for non-Muslims in Khartoum; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; the southern legal system is still developing under the CPA following the civil war; Islamic law will not apply to the southern states
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government
President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005)
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the National Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet
elections
election last held 13-23 December 2000; next to be held no later than July 2009 under terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
election results
Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 86.5%, Ja'afar Muhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidates received a combined vote of 3.9%; election widely viewed as rigged; all popular opposition parties boycotted elections because of a lack of guarantees for a free and fair election
note
al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan's Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; he was elected president by popular vote for the first time in March 1996
Legislative branch
bicameral National Legislature consists of a Council of States (50 seats; members indirectly elected by state legislatures to serve six-year terms) and a National Assembly (450 seats; members presently appointed, but in the future 75% of members to be directly elected and 25% elected in special or indirect elections; to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held in 2008-2009 timeframe)
election results: NCP 355, others 5; note - replaced by appointments under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
Judicial branch
Constitutional Court of nine justices; National Supreme Court; National Courts of Appeal; other national courts; National Judicial Service Commission will undertake overall management of the National Judiciary
Political parties and leaders
National Congress Party or NCP [Ibrahim Ahmed OMAR]; Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM [Salva Mayardit KIIR]; and elements of the National Democratic Alliance or NDA including factions of the Democratic Union Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI] and Umma Party [SADIQ Siddiq al-Mahdi]; note - all political parties listed above in the Government of National Unity
Political pressure groups and leaders
Umma Party [Sadiq al-MAHDI]; Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI]
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires, Ad Interim John UKEC Lueth (since 17 October 2006)
chancery
2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 338-8565
FAX
[1] (202) 667-2406
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Alberto M. Fernandez
embassy
Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Avenue, Khartoum
mailing address
P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829
telephone
[249] (183) 774701
FAX
[249] (183) 774137
note
US Consul in Cairo is providing backup service for Khartoum;
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Economy - overview
Sudan has turned around a struggling economy with sound economic policies and infrastructure investments, but it still faces formidable economic problems starting from its low level of per capita output. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been implementing IMF macroeconomic reforms. In 1999, Sudan began exporting crude oil and in the last quarter of 1999 recorded its first trade surplus, which, along with monetary policy, has stabilized the exchange rate. Increased oil production, high oil prices, revived light industry, and expanded export processing zones helped sustain GDP growth at about 10% in 2006. Agricultural production remains Sudan's most important sector, employing 80% of the work force and contributing 35% of GDP, but most farms remain rain-fed and susceptible to drought. Chronic instability - resulting from the long-standing North/South civil war as well as the Darfur conflict, adverse weather, and weak world agricultural prices - ensure that much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years. In late 2006, the government announced its intention to introduce a new currency, the Sudan Pound, from January 2007 at an exchange rate of $1.00 equals 2 Sudanese Pounds.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$97.47 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$25.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
9.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$2,400 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
35.5%
industry
24.8%
services
39.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force
7.415 million (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
80%
industry
7%
services
13% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate
18.7% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
25.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$7.943 billion
expenditures
$10.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $304 million (2006 est.)
gas 156 km; oil 3,930 km; refined products 1,613 km (2006)
Railways
total
5,978 km
narrow gauge
4,578 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations (2005)
Roadways
total
11,900 km
paved
4,320 km
unpaved
7,580 km (1999)
Waterways
4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers) (2006)
Merchant marine
total
2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 11,326 GRT/14,068 DWT
by type
cargo 1, livestock carrier 1
registered in other countries
2 (Panama 1, Saudi Arabia 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Port Sudan
Military branches
Sudanese People's Armed Forces (SPAF): Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Forces (2007)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 3 years (2004)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
8,291,695
females age 18-49
8,135,683 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
5,427,474
females age 18-49
5,649,566 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
442,915
females age 18-49
426,320 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
3% (2005 est.)
Disputes - international
the effects of Sudan's almost constant ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; as of 2006, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda provided shelter for over half a million Sudanese refugees, which includes 240,000 Darfur residents driven from their homes by Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military forces; Sudan, in turn, hosted about 116,000 Eritreans, 20,000 Chadians, and smaller numbers of Ethiopians, Ugandans, Central Africans, and Congolese as refugees; in February 2006, Sudan and DROC signed an agreement to repatriate 13,300 Sudanese and 6,800 Congolese; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia proceed slowly due to civil and ethnic fighting in eastern Sudan; the boundary that separates Kenya and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial times; while Sudan claims to administer the Hala'ib Triangle north of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel; both states withdrew their military presence in the 1990s, and Egypt has invested in and effectively administers the area; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic
5,300,000 - 6,200,000 (internal conflict since 1980s; ongoing genocide in Darfur region, IDP registration for return to South Sudan started in 2005) (2006)
Trafficking in persons
current situation
Sudan is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; Sudan may also be a transit and destination country for Ethiopian women trafficked for domestic servitude; boys are trafficked to the Middle East, particularly Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, for use as camel jockeys; small numbers of girls are reportedly trafficked within Sudan for domestic servitude as well as for commercial sexual exploitation in small brothels in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps; the terrorist rebel organization "Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA) continues to abduct and forcibly conscript small numbers of children in Southern Sudan for use as cooks, porters, and combatants in its ongoing war against Uganda; some of these children are then trafficked across borders into Uganda or possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo; children are utilized by rebel groups and the Sudanese Armed Forces and associated militias in the ongoing conflict in Darfur; during the decades of civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children were enslaved by members of Baggara tribes and subjected to various forms of forced labor without remuneration as well as physical and sexual abuse; with the cessation of the North-South conflict and the ongoing peace process, there were no known new abductions of Dinka by Baggara tribes during 2005; however, inter-tribal abductions of a different nature continue in Southern Sudan and warrant further investigation
tier rating
Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so
