Sudan

SUDAN

Information about travelling to Sudan

Sudan is located in Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Facts about Sudan
Population40,218,456 (July 2008 est
CapitalKhartoum
Time zoneUTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

General info about Sudan
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 four million people displaced and, according to rebel estimates, more than two 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 two million people and caused an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths. The UN took command of the Darfur peacekeeping operation from the African Union on 31 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.
Disease threats
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepat
Languages spoken
Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages note: program of "Arabization" in process
Ethnic division
black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate
2.3% (2001 est.)
Climate
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Resources
petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Economy
Until the second half of 2008, Sudan's economy boomed on the back of increases in oil production, high oil prices, and large inflows of foreign direct investment. GDP growth registered more than 10% per year in 2006 and 2007. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been working with the IMF to implement macroeconomic reforms, including a managed float of the exchange rate. Sudan began exporting crude oil in the last quarter of 1999. Agricultural production remains important, because it employs 80% of the work force and contributes a third of GDP. The Darfur conflict, the aftermath of two decades of civil war in the south, the lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and a reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture ensure much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years despite rapid rises in average per capita income. In January 2007, the government introduced a new currency, the Sudanese Pound, at an initial exchange rate of $1.00 equals 2 Sudanese Pounds.
Environment
inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought

Cities in Sudan

abu jubayhah     abu zabad     babanusah     bara     barbar     bentiu     doka     galgani     gogrial     juba     kaduqli     kapoeta     kassala     khartoum     kinanah     kusti     kutum     ler     malakal     marabba     marawi     maridi     rabak     raga     sawakin     sinjah     sinkat     sinnar     tabat     talawdi     tambul     tambura     tandalti     tawkar     tonj     torit     umm durman     umm jarr     umm kaddadah     umm ruwabah     uwayl     wad madani     wad rawah     wagar     waw     yambio     yei     yirol    


Airports in Sudan
AtbaraATB
Wad MedaniDNI
DongolaDOG
El ObeidEBD
GeneinaEGN
El FasherELF
Khashm El GirbaGBU
GedarefGSU
JubaJUB
CivilKRT
KassalaKSL
KostiKST
MalakalMAK
MeroweMWE
New HalfaNHF
En NahudNUD
Port SudanPZU
NyalaUYL
WauWUU


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