Sudan

Sudan

Introduction

Background

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 followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. The referendum was held in January 2011 and indicated overwhelming support for independence. 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 in December 2007. Peacekeeping troops have struggled to stabilize the situation, which has become increasingly regional in scope and has brought instability to eastern Chad. 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.

Geography

Location

Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 30 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 1,861,484 sq km
country comparison to the world: 16 land:NA
water:NA

Area – comparative

slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Land boundaries

total: 6,751 km
border countries:Central African Republic 175 km, Chad 1,360 km, Egypt 1,275 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 769 km, Libya 383 km, South Sudan 2,184 km
note:Sudan-South Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment

final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation

final sovereignty status of Abyei region pending negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan

Coastline

853 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:18 nm
continental shelf:200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

hot and dry

arid desert

rainy season varies by region (April to November)

Terrain

generally flat, featureless plain

desert dominates the north

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
highest point:Kinyeti 3,187 m

Natural resources

petroleum

small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold

hydropower

Land use

arable land: NA
permanent crops:NA
other:NA

Irrigated land

18,630 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

154 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 37.32cu km/yr (3%/1%/97%)
per capita:1,030cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

dust storms and periodic persistent droughts

Environment – current issues

inadequate supplies of potable water

wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting

soil erosion

desertification

periodic drought

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective:Sudanese

Ethnic groups

Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Fallata

Languages

Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
note:program of “Arabization” in process

Religions

Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority

Population

45,047,502
country comparison to the world: 29 note:includes the population of South Sudan (8,260,490)

demographic data includes South Sudan (July 2011 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.1% (male 9,696,726/female 9,286,894)
15-64 years:55.2% (male 12,282,082/female 12,571,424)
65 years and over:2.7% (male 613,817/female 596,559) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 18.5 years
male:18.1 years
female:18.9 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.484% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

Birth rate

36.12 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Death rate

11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Net migration rate

-0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Urbanization

urban population: 40% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:3.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

KHARTOUM (capital) 5.021 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:1.05 male(s)/female
total population:1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

750 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 14

Infant mortality rate

total: 68.07 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 21 male:68.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female:67.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 55.42 years
country comparison to the world: 197 male:54.18 years
female:56.71 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.84 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Health expenditures

7.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 71

Physicians density

0.28 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 143

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 162

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 64% of population
rural: 52% of population
total: 57% of population
unimproved:
urban: 36% of population
rural: 48% of population
total: 43% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 55% of population
rural: 18% of population
total: 34% of population
unimproved:
urban: 45% of population
rural: 82% of population
total: 66% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

1.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

260,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

HIV/AIDS – deaths

12,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
water contact disease:schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease:rabies
note:highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country

it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

31.7% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 15

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:61.1%
male:71.8%
female:50.5% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 4 years (2000)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form:Sudan
local long form:Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form:As-Sudan
former:Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Government type

Government of National Unity (GNU) – the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)

the NCP, which came to power by military coup in 1989, is the majority partner

the agreement stipulated national elections in 2009, but these were subsequently rescheduled

elections took place in April 2010 and the NCP was elected as the majority party

due to the CPA stipulations, there is also an autonomous government in Southern Sudan where SPLM holds the majority of positions.

Capital

name: Khartoum
geographic coordinates:15 36 N, 32 32 E
time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

15 states (wilayat, singular – wilayah)

Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Jazira (Gezira), Al Khartoum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), An Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile), Ash Shimaliyya (Northern), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Janub Darfur (Southern Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Kassala, Nahr an Nil (River Nile), Shimal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shimal Kurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sinnar
note:the Sudanese Government has announced the creation of two new states, Central Darfur and East Darfur, but they are not yet operational

Independence

1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Constitution

Interim National Constitution ratified 5 July 2005
note:under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Interim National Constitution was ratified 5 July 2005

Constitution of Southern Sudan was signed December 2005

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law in the north, and primarily customary law in the south

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2008

Suffrage

17 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993)

note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president

note – the National Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR’s cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:election on 11-15 April 2010

next to be held in 2015
election results:Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president

percent of vote – Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 68.2%, Yasir ARMAN 21.7%, Abdullah Deng NHIAL 3.9%, others 6.2%
note:al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan’s Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC

he was elected president by popular vote for the first time in March 1996

Legislative branch

bicameral National Legislature consists of a Council of States (50 seats

members indirectly elected by state legislatures to serve six-year terms) and a National Assembly (450 seats

60% from geographic constituencies, 25% from a women’s list, and 15% from party lists

members to serve six-year terms)
elections:last held on 11-15 April 2010 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:National Assembly – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – NCP 323, SPLM 99, PCP 4, DUP 4, UFP 3, URRP 2, DUPO 2, SPLM-DC 2, other 7, vacant 4

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court of nine justices

National Supreme Court

National Courts of Appeal

other national courts

National Judicial Service Commission will undertake overall management of the National Judiciary

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Unionist Party or DUP [Hatim al-SIR]

Democratic Unionist Party-Original or DUPO

National Congress Party or NCP [Umar Hassan al-BASHIR]

Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI]

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement or SPLM [Malik AGGAR]

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-Democratic Change or SPLM-DC

Umma Federal Party or UFP

Umma Renewal and Reform Party or URRP

Political pressure groups and leaders

Umma Party [SADIQ Siddiq al-Mahdi]

Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI]

Darfur rebel groups including the Justice and Equality Movement or JEM [Khalil IBRAHIM] and the Sudan Liberation Movement or SLM [various factional leaders]

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

Charge d’Affaires Emad Mirghani ALTOHAMY
chancery:2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 338-8565
FAX:[1] (202) 667-2406

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

Charge d’Affaires Robert E. WHITEHEAD
embassy:Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Street, Khartoum
mailing address:P.O. Box 699, Khartoum

APO AE 09829
telephone:[249] (183) 774700 through 704
FAX:[249] (183) 774137

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

colors and design based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I, but the meanings of the colors are expressed as follows: red signifies the struggle for freedom, white is the color of peace, light, and love, black represents Sudan itself (in Arabic ‘Sudan’ means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity

National symbol(s)

secretary bird

National anthem

name: “Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan” (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land)
lyrics/music:Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN
note:adopted 1956

the song originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military

Economy

Economy – overview

Since 1997, Sudan has been working with the IMF to implement macroeconomic reforms including a managed float of the exchange rate and a large reserve of foreign exchange. A new currency, the Sudanese Pound, was introduced in January 2007 at an initial exchange rate of $1.00 equals 2 Sudanese Pounds. Sudan began exporting crude oil in the last quarter of 1999 and the economy boomed on the back of increases in oil production, high oil prices, and significant inflows of foreign direct investment until the second half of 2008. 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 to come despite rapid rises in average per capita income. Sudan’s real GDP expanded by 5.2% during 2010, an improvement over 2009′s 4.2% growth but significantly below the more than 10% per year growth experienced prior to the global financial crisis in 2006 and 2007. While the oil sector continues to drive growth, services and utilities play an increasingly important role in the economy with agriculture production remaining important as it employs 80% of the work force and contributes a third of GDP. In the lead up to the referendum on southern secession, which took place in January 2011, Sudan saw its currency depreciate considerably on the black market with the Central Bank’s official rate also losing value as the Sudanese people started to hoard foreign currency. The Central Bank of Sudan intervened heavily in the currency market to defend the value of the pound and the Sudanese government introduced a number of measures to restrain excess local demand for hard currency, but uncertainty about the secession has meant that foreign exchange remains in heavy demand.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$100 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71 $95.18 billion (2009 est.)
$89.81 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$68.44 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

5.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71 6% (2009 est.)
6.8% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$2,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183 $2,200 (2009 est.)
$2,200 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 44.6%
industry:45.3%
services:10.2% (2010 est.)

Labor force

11.92 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 80%
industry:7%
services:13% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate

18.7% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Population below poverty line

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Investment (gross fixed)

21.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Budget

revenues: $11.32 billion
expenditures:$13.35 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Public debt

90.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14 105.2% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211 11.2% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.7% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98 11% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$7.875 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77 $7.19 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$14.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 $12.63 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$12.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89 $11.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame

sheep and other livestock

Industries

oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly

Industrial production growth rate

3.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity – production

4.323 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Electricity – consumption

3.787 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

514,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Oil – consumption

98,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Oil – exports

383,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Oil – imports

11,820 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Oil – proved reserves

5 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas – proved reserves

84.95 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Current account balance

-$4.119 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172 -$4.232 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$11.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 $8.473 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

oil and petroleum products

cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts, gum arabic, sugar

Exports – partners

China 68.3%, Japan 12.6%, India 5.8% (2010)

Imports

$8.839 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93 $8.528 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat

Imports – partners

China 21.7%, Egypt 8%, Saudi Arabia 7.7%, India 6.1%, UAE 5.7% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.063 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118 $897 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$37.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63 $35.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar -
2.36 (2010)
2.3 (2009)
2.1 (2008)
2.06 (2007)
2.172 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

116 (2011)
country comparison to the world:52

Airports – with paved runways

total: 17
over 3,047 m:3
2,438 to 3,047 m:10
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
under 914 m:1 (2011)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 99
1,524 to 2,437 m:16
914 to 1,523 m:46
under 914 m:37 (2011)

Heliports

5 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 156 km

oil 4,070 km

refined products 1,613 km (2010)

Railways

total: 5,978 km
country comparison to the world: 30 narrow gauge:4,578 km 1.067-m gauge

1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations (2010)

Roadways

total: 11,900 km
country comparison to the world: 131 paved:4,320 km
unpaved:7,580 km (2000)

Waterways

4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 25

Merchant marine

total: 2
country comparison to the world: 144 by type:cargo 2 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Port Sudan

Military

Military branches

Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Land Forces, Navy (includes Marines), Sudanese Air Force (Sikakh al-Jawwiya as-Sudaniya), Popular Defense Forces (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18-33 years of age for male and female compulsory and voluntary military service

1-2 year service obligation

a requirement that completion of national sevice was mandatory before entering public or private sector employment has been cancelled (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 10,433,973
females age 16-49:10,411,443 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 6,475,530
females age 16-49:6,840,885 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 532,030
female:512,476 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

3% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

the effects of Sudan’s almost constant ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states

as of 2006, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda provided shelter for over half a million Sudanese refugees, which includes 240,000 Darfur residents driven from their homes by Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military forces

as of January 2011, Sudan, in turn, hosted about 138,700 Eritreans, 43,000 Chadians, and smaller numbers of Ethiopians

Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups

efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia proceed slowly due to civil and ethnic fighting in eastern Sudan

Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary

periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 162,000 (Eritrea)

43,000 (Chad)

11,009 (Ethiopia)
IDPs:more than 4 million (civil war 1983-2005

ongoing conflict in Darfur region) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking

Sudanese women and girls, particularly those from rural areas or who are internally displaced, are vulnerable to forced labor as domestic workers in homes throughout the country

some of these women and girls are subsequently sexually abused by male occupants of the household or forced to engage in commercial sex acts

Sudanese women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude in Middle Eastern countries, such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and to forced sex trafficking in European countries

some Sudanese men who voluntarily migrate to the Middle East as low-skilled laborers face conditions indicative of forced labor

Sudanese children transit Yemen en route to Saudi Arabia, where they are used in forced begging and street vending, and reportedly work in exploitative labor situations for Sudanese traders in the Central African Republic

Sudan is a transit and destination country for Ethiopian and Eritrean women subjected to domestic servitude in Sudan and Middle Eastern countries

Sudan is a destination for Ethiopian, Somali, and possibly Thai women subjected to forced prostitution
tier rating:Tier 3 – Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so

while the government took some steps to identify, demobilize, and reintegrate child soldiers during the reporting period, combating human trafficking through law enforcement, protection, or prevention measures was not a priority (2011)