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| Sudan | Plants and Animal | Back to Top |
In the early 1990s, agriculture and farm animal raising were the main sources of livelihood in Sudan for about 61% of the working population. Agricultural products regularly accounted for about 95% of the nation's exports. Industry was mostly agriculturally-based, accounting for 15% of GDP in 1988. The average annual growth of agricultural production declined in the 1980s to 0.8 % for the time 1980-87, as compared with 2.9% for the time 1965-80. Similarly, the sector's total contribution to GDP declined over the years, as the other sectors of the economy expanded. Total sectoral activities, which contributed an around 40% of GDP in the early 1970s, had fluctuated during the 1980s and described about 36% in 1988. Crop cultivation was separated between a modern, market-oriented area comprising mechanized, large-scale irrigated and rainfed farming and small-scale farming following orthodox practices that was carried on in the other parts of the nation where rainfall or other water sources were sufficient for cultivation.
The forestry subsector comprised both orthodox gatherers of firewood and producers of charcoal-the main sources of fuel for homes and some industry in urban areas-and a modern timber and sawmilling industry, the latter government owned. around 21 million cubic meters of wood, mainly for fuel, were cut in 1987. Gum arabic production in FY 1986-87 was about 40,000 tons. In the late 1980s, it became in most years the second biggest export after cotton, amounting to about 11 % of total exports.
| Sudan | Communications | Back to Top |
large, well-equipped system by regional standards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and have expanded substantially
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat
| Sudan | Culture | Back to Top |
The first and overwhelming impression of Sudan is its physical vastness and ethnic variety, elements that have shaped its regional history from time immemorial. The nation encompasses virtually every geographical feature, from the harsh deserts of the north to the rain forests rising on its southern borders. Like most African countries, Sudan is defined by boundaries that European powers determined at the end of the 19th century. The British colonial administration in Sudan, accomplished in 1899, emphasized indirect rule by tribal shaykhs and chiefs, although tribalism had been considerably weakened as an administrative institution during the Mahdist time .This loosening of loyalties exacerbated problems in governmental structure and administration and in the peoples' identification as Sudanese. To this day, loyalty remains separated among family, clan, ethnic group, and religion, and it is difficult to forge a nation because the immensity of the land permits many of Sudan's ethnic and tribal groups to live comparatively undisturbed by the central government.
The Sudanese of the south are of African origin. Islam has made only modest inroads among these followers of orthodox religions and of Christianity, which was spread in the twentieth century by European missionaries, and Arabic has not replaced the various languages of the south. The strong regional and cultural differences have inhibited nation building and have caused the civil war in the south that has raged since freedom, except for a time of peace between 1972 and 1983. The distrust between Sudanese of the north and those of the south--whether elite or peasants--has deepened with the long years of hostilities. And the cost of war has drained valuable national resources at the expense of health, education, and welfare in both regions.
| Sudan | Defence | Back to Top |
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 8,436,732 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 5,194,862 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 398,294 (2001 est.)
| Sudan | International Disputes | Back to Top |
Administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; Egypt asserts its claim to the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under partial Sudanese administration that is defined by an administrative boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899
| Sudan | Economy | Back to Top |
Agriculture continues to dominate the economy of Sudan. Economic growth was virtually nonexistent between the mid-1960s and the early 1990s, when drought and civil war caused the annual gross domestic product (GDP) to fall to a mere $240 per capita. Sudan’s huge foreign debt is seen as an obstacle to economic recovery. In 1992 the debt was around to be $15 billion, nearly three times the nation’s gross national product. The GDP began to increase in the mid-1990s; by 1999 it was $9.7 billion.
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. Though its role in the economy has declined in the decades since freedom, agriculture still accounts for one-third of The Sudan's gross domestic product (GDP) and more than nine-tenths of its exports, while providing the livelihood of two-thirds of the population. The economy has steadily declined since the late 1970s, when the failure of an ambitious development program left the nation with both stagnating agricultural production and a large foreign debt.
Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic instability, adverse weather, weak world agricultural prices, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture (which employs 80% of the work force), trading, and light industry which is mostly processing of agricultural goods. Most of the 1990s were characterized by sluggish economic growth as the IMF inactive lending, declared Sudan a non-cooperative state, and threatened to expel Sudan from the IMF. Starting in 1997, Sudan began implementing IMF macroeconomic reforms which have successfully stabilized inflation at 10% or less. Sudan continues to have limited international credit resources as over 75% of Sudan's debt of $24.9 billion is in arrears and Khartoum's continued prosecution of the civil war works to isolate Sudan. In 1999, Sudan began exporting oil and in 1999-2000 had recorded its first trade surpluses. Current oil production stands at 185,000 barrels per day, of which about 70% is exported and the rest refined for domestic consumption. contempt its many infrastructure problems, Sudan's increased oil production, the return of regular rainfall, and recent investments in irrigation schemes should allow the nation to achieve economic growth of 6% in 2001.
| Sudan | Education | Back to Top |
The public and private education systems inherited by the government after freedom were designed more to offer civil servants and professionals to serve the colonial administration than to educate the Sudanese. Moreover, the distribution of facilities, staff, and enrollment was biased in favor of the needs of the administration and a Western curriculum. Schools tended to be clustered in the vicinity of Khartoum and to a lesser extent in other urban areas, although the population was predominantly rural. This concentration was found at all levels but was most marked for those in situations beyond the four-year primary schools where instruction was in the vernacular. The north suffered from shortages of teachers and buildings, but education in the south was even more insufficient. During the condominium, education in the south was left largely to the mission schools, where the level of instruction proved so poor that as early as the mid-1930s the government imposed provincial education supervisors upon the missionaries in return for the government subsidies that they sorely needed. The civil war and the ejection of all foreign missionaries in February 1964 further diminished education opportunities for southern Sudanese.
Education is free and compulsory in Sudan between the ages of 6 and 13. In the 1996 school year 3 million pupils attended elementary schools, and 405,600 students were listed in secondary schools and vocational institutions. Institutions of higher education include the University of Khartoum,Omdurman Islamic University, the University of Juba , and the College of Fine and Applied Art,located in Khartoum.
| Sudan | Government | Back to Top |
Government: All administrator and legislative powers unconditional in Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC-NS), fifteen-member body of military officers. RCC-NS chairman Lieutenant General Umar Hassan Ahmad al Bashir designated president of the republic and prime minister. RCC-NS appointed members of Council of Ministers, or cabinet, governors of states, and judges of courts. No plans for new elections announced as of mid-1991. Government's authority in southern one-third of Sudan limited to several towns in which military garrisons were based. Rest of south controlled by Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA).
Administrative Divisions: In 1991 RCC-NS decreed division of Sudan into nine states. Each state further subseparated into provinces and local government areas or districts.
Justice: Court system consisted of civil and special courts. Civil courts required to apply Islamic law, or sharia, but also permitted to consider customary law in reaching decisions. Apex of civil judicial system was High Court of Appeal. Lower courts consisted of state courts of appeal and at local level, major courts and magistrate's courts. Special courts, under military jurisdiction, dealt with offenses affecting national security or involving official corruption.
Politics: Although RCC-NS banned all political parties in 1989, it tolerated political activity by National Islamic Front (NIF), a coalition controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood. All other parties persecuted, and their leaders had reorganized abroad or in southern areas outside government control. Opposition parties tended to be sectarian. Umma Party and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) described Muslim constituencies in northern Sudan; Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) drew support from predominantly non-Muslim and non-Arab population of south.
Foreign Affairs: Prior to 1989 coup, Sudan had comparatively close relations with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and United States, and had history of tense relations with Libya. RCC-NS changed orientation of Sudan's foreign policy, particularly by supporting Iraq during Persian Gulf War of 1990-91. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait retaliated by suspending economic assistance, which constituted crucial component of government's budget.
| Sudan | History | Back to Top |
Througth its history Sudan has been separated between its Arab heritage, identified with northern Sudan, and its African heritages to the south. The two groups are separated along linguistic, religious, racial, and economic lines, and the cleavage has generated ethnic tensions and clashes. Moreover, the geographical isolation of Sudan's southern African peoples has prevented them from participating fully in the nation's political, economic, and social life. Imperial Britain acknowledged the north-south division by establishing separate administrations for the two regions. Independent Sudan further reinforced this cleavage by treating African southerners as a minority group.
Lastly, Sudan's postfreedom history has been shaped largely by the southern civil war. This conflict has retarded the nation's social and economic development, promoted political instability, and led to an endless cycle of weak and ineffective military and civilian governments. The conflict appeared likely to continue to affect Sudan's people and institutions for the rest of the twentieth century.
| Sudan | Introduction | Back to Top |
Sudan, Republic of, republic in north-eastern Africa, the largest nation of the African continent. It is bordered on the north by Egypt; on the east by the Red Sea, Eritrea, and Ethiopia; on the south by Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and on the west by the Central African Republic, Chad, and Libya. Sudan has a total area of 2,505,800 sq km (967,490 sq mi). Khartoum is the capital and largest city.
Official Name- Republic of Sudan| Sudan | Land | Back to Top |
N/A
| Sudan | Languages | Back to Top |
About 70 % of the people of Sudan are Muslims, some 25 % follow orthodox religions, and most of the remainder are Christians. The people of northern Sudan are predominantly Sunni Muslims (see Sunnites). Most of the people in the south either practice orthodox religions or are Christians. The official language of Sudan is Arabic; English is widely spoken, and African languages are used in the south. A program of Arabization is in place to promote greater use of Arabic in the south.
| Sudan | Legal | Back to Top |
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; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations vote: 17 years of age; universal, but noncompulsory administrator branch: chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman Muhammad TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President Moses MACHAR (since 12 February 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Lt. Gen. Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman Muhammad TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President Moses MACHAR (since 12 February 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the National Congress Party (front for the National Islamic Front or NIF) dominates BASHIR's cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 13-23 December 2000 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president; % of vote - Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 86.5%, Ja'afar Muhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidates received less than a combined 4% of the vote note: BASHIR assumed supreme administrator power in 1989 and retained it through several transitional governments in the early and mid-90s before being popularly elected for the first time in March 1996 Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (400 seats; 275 elected by popular vote, 125 elected by a supra assembly of interest groups known as the National Congress) elections: last held 13-23 December 2000 (next to be held NA) election results: NA; few parties participated in the 2000 elections note: on 12 December 1999, BASHIR dismissed the National Assembly during an internal power fight between the president and speaker of the National Assembly Hasan al-TURABI Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
| Sudan | Life | Back to Top |
In Sudan, the extended family provided social services. traditionally, the family was responsible for the old, the sick, and the mentally ill, although many of these responsibilities had been eroded by urbanization. Whether in rural or urban society, the burden of these social services fell upon the women.
In southern Sudan, the role of women differed dramatically from that in the north. Although women were subordinate to men, they enjoyed much greater freedom within southern Sudan's societies. Female circumcision was not practiced and no zar cult existed, although the spirits were regularly consulted about private and public affairs through practitioners. Women had greater freedom of movement, and indeed participated to a limited degree in the councils of lineage. Husbands consulted their wives on matters pertaining to public affairs. Many women also played valuable roles in the mediation of disputes.
| Sudan | organization | Back to Top |
ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
| Sudan | People | Back to Top |
Population information for Sudan has been limited, but in 1990 it was clear that the nation was experiencing a high birth rate and a high, but declining, death rate. Infant mortality was high, but Sudan was expected to continue its rapid population growth, with a large %age of its people under fifteen years of age, for some time to come. The trends suggested an overall low population density. with famine affecting much of the nation, internal migration by hundreds of thousands of people was on the increase. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that in early 1991, around 1,800,000 people were displaced in the northern states, of whom it was around that 750,000 were in Al Khartum State, 30,000 each in Kurdufan and Al Awsat states, 300,000 each in Darfur and Ash Sharqi states, and 150,000 in Ash Shamali State. Efforts were underway to offer permanent sites for about 800,000 of these displaced people. The civil war and famine in the south was around to have displaced up to 3.5 million southern Sudanese by early 1990.
The 2001 around population was 36,080,375, giving the nation an overall population density of 14 persons per sq km .The most densely settled area is at the juncture of the White Nile and the Blue Nile. Sudan’s population is growing at a rate of 2.79% (2001) annually.
A major cleavage exists between the northern and the southern parts of the nation. The north is controlled by Muslims, most of whom speak Arabic and identify themselves as “Arabs,” while the people of the south are “Africans” who for the most part follow orthodox African religions, though there are also some Christians among them. Those who identify themselves as Arabs were around at 39 % of the total population in 1956. The largest non-Arab ethnic group is that of the Dinka, who constituted 12 % of the population, followed by the Beja at 7 %.Moreover, ethnic identity may not actually coincide with a particular racial character. Those Sudanese who consider themselves Arabs are, for the most part, racially mixed, and many of them are indistinguishable from black southerners. contempt a common language and religion, the “Arabs” do not constitute a cohesive group: they are highly differentiated in their mode of livelihood and comprise city dwellers, village farmers, and pastoral nomads. The Arabs have historically been separated into tribes based on presumed descent from a common ancestor. The tribal system has largely disintegrated in urban areas and settled villages, and retains its strength only among the nomads of the plains who raise cattle, sheep, and camels.
| Sudan | Politics | Back to Top |
the government allows political "associations" under a 1998 law revised in 2000; to obtain government approval parties must accept the constitution and refrain from advocating or using violence against the regime; approved parties include the National Congress Party or NCP [Ibrahim Ahmed UMAR], Popular National Congress [Hassan al-TURABI], and a handful of minor pro-government parties
| Sudan | Provinces | Back to Top |
26 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, Al Khartum, Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah, An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, Ash Shamaliyah, Bahr al Jabal, Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr al Ghazal, Gharb Darfur, Gharb Kurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan, Junqali, Kassala, Nahr an Nil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur, Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq al Istiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab
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| Sudan | Time | Back to Top |
| Sudan | Currency and General Information | Back to Top |
| Countries Currency Unit | SDD/Unit | Units/SDD | |
| DZD | Algeria Dinars | 3.35861 | 0.297742 |
| USD | United States Dollars | 260.000 | 0.00384615 |
| ARS | Argentina Pesos | 88.2852 | 0.0113269 |
| AUD | Australia Dollars | 138.714 | 0.00720909 |
| ATS | Austria Schillings ** | 16.4577 | 0.0607619 |
| BSD | Bahamas Dollars | 260.000 | 0.00384615 |
| BBD | Barbados Dollars | 130.653 | 0.00765385 |
| BEF | Belgium Francs ** | 5.61386 | 0.178131 |
| BMD | Bermuda Dollars | 260.000 | 0.00384615 |
| BRL | Brazil Reals | 111.828 | 0.00894231 |
| GBP | United Kingdom Pounds | 370.724 | 0.00269742 |
| BGL | Bulgaria Leva | 116.296 | 0.00859874 |
| CAD | Canada Dollars | 162.993 | 0.00613525 |
| CLP | Chile Pesos | 0.396070 | 2.52481 |
| CNY | China Yuan Renminbi | 31.4108 | 0.0318362 |
| CYP | Cyprus Pounds | 395.738 | 0.00252692 |
| CZK | Czech Republic Koruny | 7.33449 | 0.136342 |
| DKK | Denmark Kroner | 30.4840 | 0.0328041 |
| XCD | East Caribbean Dollars | 96.2963 | 0.0103846 |
| EGP | Egypt Pounds | 56.1252 | 0.0178173 |
| EUR | Euro | 226.463 | 0.00441574 |
| FJD | Fiji Dollars | 116.331 | 0.00859615 |
| FIM | Finland Markkaa ** | 38.0883 | 0.0262548 |
| FRF | France Francs ** | 34.5240 | 0.0289654 |
| DEM | Germany Deutsche Marks ** | 115.788 | 0.00863644 |
| XAU | Gold Ounces | 78,583.84 | 0.0000127253 |
| GRD | Greece Drachmae ** | 0.664600 | 1.50466 |
| HKD | Hong Kong Dollars | 33.3350 | 0.0299985 |
| HUF | Hungary Forint | 0.931314 | 1.07375 |
| ISK | Iceland Kronur | 2.60016 | 0.384591 |
| INR | India Rupees | 5.32744 | 0.187708 |
| IDR | Indonesia Rupiahs | 0.0264647 | 37.7863 |
| IEP | Ireland Pounds ** | 287.548 | 0.00347768 |
| ILS | Israel New Shekels | 54.8183 | 0.0182421 |
| ITL | Italy Lire ** | 0.116958 | 8.55007 |
| JMD | Jamaica Dollars | 5.46104 | 0.183115 |
| JPY | Japan Yen | 1.96005 | 0.510192 |
| JOD | Jordan Dinars | 366.714 | 0.00272692 |
| LBP | Lebanon Pounds | 0.171731 | 5.82308 |
| LUF | Luxembourg Francs ** | 5.61386 | 0.178131 |
| MYR | Malaysia Ringgits | 68.4391 | 0.0146115 |
| MXN | Mexico Pesos | 28.8558 | 0.0346551 |
| NZD | New Zealand Dollars | 114.526 | 0.00873167 |
| NOK | Norway Kroner | 29.3664 | 0.0340525 |
| NLG | Netherlands Guilders ** | 102.764 | 0.00973101 |
| PKR | Pakistan Rupees | 4.32973 | 0.230962 |
| PHP | Philippines Pesos | 5.09604 | 0.196231 |
| XPT | Platinum Ounces | 134,934.24 | 0.00000741102 |
| PLN | Poland Zlotych | 63.2332 | 0.0158145 |
| PTE | Portugal Escudos ** | 1.12959 | 0.885276 |
| ROL | Romania Lei | 0.00789434 | 126.673 |
| RUR | Russia Rubles | 8.35476 | 0.119692 |
| SAR | Saudi Arabia Riyals | 69.3323 | 0.0144233 |
| XAG | Silver Ounces | 1,203.76 | 0.000830731 |
| SGD | Singapore Dollars | 141.136 | 0.00708539 |
| SKK | Slovakia Koruny | 5.42230 | 0.184423 |
| ZAR | South Africa Rand | 22.8918 | 0.0436837 |
| KRW | South Korea Won | 0.196850 | 5.08002 |
| ESP | Spain Pesetas ** | 1.36107 | 0.734717 |
| XDR | IMF Special Drawing Rights | 324.172 | 0.00308478 |
| SDD | Sudan Dinars | 1.00000 | 1.00000 |
| SEK | Sweden Kronor | 25.0943 | 0.0398497 |
| CHF | Switzerland Francs | 154.645 | 0.00646641 |
| TWD | Taiwan New Dollars | 7.43920 | 0.134423 |
| THB | Thailand Baht | 5.96991 | 0.167507 |
| TTD | Trinidad and Tobago Dollars | 42.4837 | 0.0235385 |
| TRL | Turkey Liras | 0.000193438 | 5,169.61 |
| VEB | Venezuela Bolivares | 0.282366 | 3.54150 |
| ZMK | Zambia Kwacha | 0.0581655 | 17.1923 |
| Sudan : Geographic coordinates | 15 00 N, 30 00 E |
| Sudan : Population growth rate | 2.79% |
| Sudan : Birth rate | 37.89 births/1,000 population |
| Sudan : Death rate | 10.04 deaths/1,000 population |
| Sudan : People living with HIV/AIDS | N/A |
| Sudan : Independence | 1 January 1956 |
| Sudan : National holiday | Independence Day, 1 January |
| Sudan : Constitution | 12 April 1973 |
| Sudan : GDP | purchasing power parity - $35.7 billion |
| Sudan : GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $1,000 |
| Sudan : Electricity - consumption | 1.637 billion kWh |
| Sudan : Exports | $1.7 billion oil and petroleum products, cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts, gum arabic, sugar |
| Sudan : Imports | $1.2 billion foodstuffs, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles |
| Sudan : Telephones | 400,000 |
| Sudan : Mobile cellular | 20,000 |
| Sudan : Radio broadcast stations | AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 |
| Sudan : Radios | 7.55 million |
| Sudan : Television broadcast stations | 3 |
| Sudan : Televisions | 2.38 million |
| Sudan : Internet country code | .sd |
| Sudan : Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 1 |
| Sudan : Internet users | 10,000 |
| Sudan : Railways | 5,311 km |
| Sudan : Highways | 11,900 km |
| Sudan : Waterways | 5,310 km |
| Sudan : Pipelines | refined products 815 km |
| Sudan : Ports and harbors | Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan, Sawakin |
| Sudan : Merchant marine | 4 ships |
| Sudan : Airports | 61 |
| Sudan : Heliports | 1 |
| Sudan : Military branches | Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia |
| Sudan : Military expenditures | $550 million |