Introduction

Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics in Sudan since its independence from the UK in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century which 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 the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in January 2005. A separate conflict, which broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, displaced nearly 2 million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths. The UN took command of the Darfur peacekeeping operation in December 2007. As of early 2009, 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.

Geographical Location

Sudan is the largest country in Africa and in the Arab world, and tenth largest in the world by area. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, Kenya and Uganda to the southeast, the DROC and the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west and Libya to the northwest. The world's longest river, the Nile, divides the country between east and west sides. The elevation extremes are: lowest point, Red Sea 0 m.; highest point, Kinyeti 3,187 m. The terrain is generally flat plain, mountains in the far south, northeast and west, and desert dominating the north. Natural resources include petroleum, small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, and hydro-power. Agricultural products include cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame, sheep, and livestock. Industries include oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly.

Climate

Sudan's climate is tropical in the south and arid desert in the north. The rainy season varies by region (April to November). Natural hazards include dust storms and periodic persistent droughts. Their environmental issues include inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; and periodic drought.

Population

The population of Sudan is 41,087,825 (July 2009 est.). The population growth rate is 2.143% with a birth rate of 33.74 per 1000 and a death rate of 12.94 per 1000. Life expectancy at birth is 51.42 years. The labor force by occupation: agriculture - 80%; industry - 7%; services 13%, with 40% of the population living below the poverty level. Ethnic groups include black - 52%, Arab - 39%, Beja - 6%, foreigners - 2%, other - 1%. Major infectious diseases include: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea; hepatitis A and E; typhoid fever; dengue fever, sleeping sickness; schistosomiasis; meningococcal meningitis.

Languages

Arabic and English are the official languages. Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages are also used. Sixty-one percent of the population over age 15 can read and write.

Religion

The main religions are Sunni Muslim 70% (in the north), Christian 5% (in the south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%.