Sudan Overview

Since ancient times the Sudan has been an arena for interaction between the cultural traditions of Africa and those of the Mediterranean world. In recent centuries Islam and the Arabic language have achieved ascendancy in many northern parts of the country, while older African languages and cultures predominate in the south.

The Sudan, in northeast Africa, is the largest country on the continent, measuring about one-fourth the size of the United States.

Differences in language, religion, ethnicity, and political power erupted in an unending civil war between government forces, strongly influenced by the National Islamic Front (NIF) and the southern rebels, whose most influential faction is the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

Modern Sudan is situated on the site of the ancient civilization of Nubia, which predates Pharaonic Egypt. Sudan achieved independence in 1956, but the south, disappointed by the rejection of its demands for autonomy, revolted and the country sank into a bitter civil war that lasted 16 years.

Sudan was a collection of small, independent kingdoms and principalities from the beginning of the Christian era until 1820-21, when Egypt conquered and unified the northern portion of the country. It, like many African countries, consists of numerous ethnic groups.

What is now northern Sudan was in ancient times the kingdom of Nubia, which came under Egyptian rule after 2600 B.C. An Egyptian and Nubian civilization called Kush flourished until A.D. 350.

Cultural life

Because of The Sudan's great cultural diversity, it is difficult to classify the traditional cultures of the various peoples. These traditional societies have diverse linguistic, ethnic, social, cultural, and religious characteristics.

Sudan is divided into twenty-five states which in turn are subdivided into 133 districts.

The states are: (wilayat, singular - wilayah);

Sudanese broadcasting is highly restricted. State-run radio and TV reflect government policy. Sudan TV has a permanent military censor to ensure that the news reflects official views.

The private press enjoys more freedom than state broadcasters.

The Sudan is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with most of its inhabitants dependent on farming and animal husbandry for their livelihoods.

Solidarity with other Arab countries has been a feature of Sudan’s foreign policy. When the Arab-Israeli war began in June 1967, Sudan declared war on Israel. However, in the early 1970s, Sudan gradually shifted its stance and was supportive of the Camp David Accords.

Since independence in 1956, The Sudan has witnessed several constitutions and regime changes, including military coups in 1985 and 1989. On seizing power in 1989, the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) for National Salvation abolished the transitional constitution of 1985, the National Assembly, and all political parties and trade unions and ruled by decree.