An Introduction to Sudan
History
The present day Republic of the Sudan was formed after liberation from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Since independence, the country has been wrought with political turmoil, struggling with the dominance of authoritarianism as well as two civil wars that continued into the twenty-first century. A series of Islamic-oriented military regimes held power in Sudan post-liberation, most notably that of Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, which lasted for 30 years. His reign ended in April 2019, when a coup took place and he was deposed. A Transitional Military Council has now acted as the leadership of Sudan since May. The civil wars that have plagued Sudan since independence arose due to tensions between the primarily Islamic and Arab northern part of Sudan and the non-Muslim and non-Arabic southern region. After the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in 2005, the southern rebels were given autonomy for six years, marking the end of the decades-long conflict. In July 2011, South Sudan became an independent country, though some economic and land allocation agreements have yet to be decided on. After South Sudan's independence, conflict broke out in various regions of Sudan, including Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and the Blue Nile States. As a result, there were over 1.83 million internally displaced persons in Sudan as of May 2019. Peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts have been impeded due to armed conflict and poor transportation. Sudan has been struggling with large influxes of refugees from surrounding countries, including Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Though Sudan has seen positive developments in recent years, with a transitional government in place and large numbers of refugees and displaced Sudanese citizens escaping conflict, the situation in Sudan remains unstable.
The present day Republic of the Sudan was formed after liberation from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Since independence, the country has been wrought with political turmoil, struggling with the dominance of authoritarianism as well as two civil wars that continued into the twenty-first century. A series of Islamic-oriented military regimes held power in Sudan post-liberation, most notably that of Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, which lasted for 30 years. His reign ended in April 2019, when a coup took place and he was deposed. A Transitional Military Council has now acted as the leadership of Sudan since May. The civil wars that have plagued Sudan since independence arose due to tensions between the primarily Islamic and Arab northern part of Sudan and the non-Muslim and non-Arabic southern region. After the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in 2005, the southern rebels were given autonomy for six years, marking the end of the decades-long conflict. In July 2011, South Sudan became an independent country, though some economic and land allocation agreements have yet to be decided on. After South Sudan's independence, conflict broke out in various regions of Sudan, including Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and the Blue Nile States. As a result, there were over 1.83 million internally displaced persons in Sudan as of May 2019. Peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts have been impeded due to armed conflict and poor transportation. Sudan has been struggling with large influxes of refugees from surrounding countries, including Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Though Sudan has seen positive developments in recent years, with a transitional government in place and large numbers of refugees and displaced Sudanese citizens escaping conflict, the situation in Sudan remains unstable.
Geography
Sudan is located in north-eastern Africa and shares a border with the Red Sea. Its surrounding countries include Egypt and Libya to the north, Chad and C.A.R. to the west, South Sudan to the south, as well as Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east. In total, Sudan is comprised of about 1,861,484 square kilometers. The climate of Sudan is hot and arid, with the northern-most part of the county dominated by the desert. For this reason, the north is sparsely populated, and the majority of Sudanese live in the more habitable regions along the southern border. The country has a total population of 43,120,843, with the most populated area being Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan. Khartoum lies in the south of the country along the Nile, Sudan's primary water source. |
A map displaying Sudan and its bordering countries
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(Fisher, 2012)
A mosque in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan
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People
The Republic of the Sudan is a diverse country with many different languages and ethnic groups. The largest ethnic group in Sudan is Sudanese Arab, accounting for approximately 70 percent of the total population. Other major ethnic groups include the Fur, Beja, Nuba, and Fallata. The official languages of Sudan are Arabic and English, though a large number of indigenous languages are spoken as well. The most common of these include Nubian, Ta Bedawie, and Fur. The vast majority of Sudanese citizens are Sunni Muslims, with a small minority practicing Christianity. The population growth rate of Sudan is ninth highest in the world, largely due to the high birth and fertility rates in the country. In addition, a total of 75. 9 percent of the population is literate. Literacy is higher among males than females, with 83.3 percent of males literate compared to 68.6% of females. |
Economy
The secession of South Sudan has created serious economic instability in Sudan for the past eight years. Because oil production previously played a major role in boosting Sudan's economy, the loss of three-quarters of its oil production to South Sudan was a considerable detriment to the country. This loss has combined with continued social conflict and the end of the civil war to create an extremely fragile economic situation in Sudan. Half of the country is at or below the poverty line due to reliance on subsistence farming and lack of infrastructure in many areas. Sudan has focused its attention on attaining revenue in areas other than oil production, including mining and agriculture. The country now produces about 75 percent of the world's gum Arabic, with other agricultural products including cotton, peanuts, wheat, sugarcane, and livestock. Approximately 80 percent of the labor force in Sudan is employed in agriculture. Sudan remains dependent on foreign aid from other countries, with over one third coming from the United States. Other notable donors include the European Union and Arab country governments such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Though the economic situation is improving in Sudan, it continues to be fragile.
The secession of South Sudan has created serious economic instability in Sudan for the past eight years. Because oil production previously played a major role in boosting Sudan's economy, the loss of three-quarters of its oil production to South Sudan was a considerable detriment to the country. This loss has combined with continued social conflict and the end of the civil war to create an extremely fragile economic situation in Sudan. Half of the country is at or below the poverty line due to reliance on subsistence farming and lack of infrastructure in many areas. Sudan has focused its attention on attaining revenue in areas other than oil production, including mining and agriculture. The country now produces about 75 percent of the world's gum Arabic, with other agricultural products including cotton, peanuts, wheat, sugarcane, and livestock. Approximately 80 percent of the labor force in Sudan is employed in agriculture. Sudan remains dependent on foreign aid from other countries, with over one third coming from the United States. Other notable donors include the European Union and Arab country governments such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Though the economic situation is improving in Sudan, it continues to be fragile.
(Elaina Carey, Fall 2019)