Background to Sudan

Sudan is the largest country in Africa, covering 2.5 million square kilometres, with a population estimated at 30 million. It shares its borders with Egypt and Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya, Uganda and Congo, Central African Republic, Chad and Libya. The principal cities are Khartoum (the capital), Khartoum North, and Omdurman. The most notable geographical feature is the River Nile; the longest river in the world at 6671 km (4145 mi) long. From its major source, Lake Victoria in east central Africa, the White Nile flows generally north through Uganda and into Sudan where it meets the Blue Nile at Khartoum, which rises in the Ethiopian highlands. From the confluence of the White and Blue Nile, the river continues to flow northwards into Egypt and on to the Mediterranean Sea. Rainfall in Sudan diminishes from south to north; thus the southern part of the country is characterized by swampland and rain forest, the central region by savannah and grassland, and the north by desert and semi desert. There are mountains in the northeast, south, centre, and west; the highest point is Kinyetti (10,456 ft/3,187 m), in the southeast. Agriculture, mostly of a subsistence nature, dominates the economy. Long-staple cotton, the principal cash crop, is raised in the irrigated Al Gezira region. Other crops include sesame, sorghum, millet, peanuts, dates, and sugarcane. Cotton, sesame, gum Arabic (much of the world's production), livestock, and peanuts are exported. Industry was largely devoted to the processing of agricultural products but in recent years this has changed. Major exports are now crude oil and petroleum products other exports include the small mining industry extracts chromate, copper and manganese ores, gypsum, and gold.

In mid-2002, Sudan had an estimated total population of some 32.6m. Over 30% of the population is estimated to be under the age of 10, and 45% under the age of 15.

Sudan is a land rich in heritage, ethnic diversity and culture. There are more than 300 tribes in Sudan, including Danagla, Gaalien, and Shaigia in the north; Bija in the east; Kababish, Humar, Nuba, Baggara, and Fur in the west; and Dinka, Nuer, and Skilluk in the south. About 60 per cent of the population are Muslim, 25 per cent are animist, and 15 per cent Christian. Arabic is the official language, while English is widely used as the official language in the south but there are more than 100 tribal languages, many of which are spoken by large numbers of people.