Sudan

  

Mahdist State of the Sudan لدولة المهدية السودان al-Dawla al-Madīyah al-Sūdān Sudan
Flag Seal of the Mahdi
Capital and largest city	Omdurman
Official languages	Arabic
Ethnic groups (2022)	70% Sudanese Arab 5.5% Beja 2.5% Nuba 2% Fur 1.2% Egyptian 0.5% Fulani 18.34% other
Religion	90% Islam 6% Christianity 3% Traditional African religions 1% Others
Demonym(s)	Sudanese
Government	Federal theocratic Islamic republic
• Khalifa	Ja'afar ibn Abdalla
• President	Tahani Kebir
Legislature	Consultative Assembly
Formation
• Kingdom of Kerma	2500 BC
• Kingdom of Kush	1070 BC
• Turkish Sudan	1820–1885
• Mahdist revolt	1881–1885
• Current constitution	1954
Area
• Total	1,413,479 km2 (545,747 sq mi)
Population
• 2022 estimate	50,289,347
• Density	35.58/km2 (92.2/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	$315.86 billion
• Per capita	$6,281
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	$92.03 billion
• Per capita	$1,830
Gini (2022)	44.2 medium
HDI (2022)	0.63 medium
Currency	Sudanese riyal (س) (SDG)
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+249
ISO 3166 code	SD
Internet TLD	.sd سودان.

Sudan (English: /suːˈdɑːn/ or /suːˈdæn/; Arabic: السودان, romanized: as-Sūdān), officially the Mahdist State of the Sudan, (Arabic: الدولة المهدية السودان, romanized: al-Dawla al-Madīyah al-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with Ubangi-Shari to the southwest, Darfur to the west, Libya to the northwest, Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the east, Ethiopia to the southeast, and the Nilotic Republic to the south. It covers an area of 1,413,479 km² (545,745 sq mi), making it the fourth-largest state in Africa by area. Sudan has a population of approximately 50 million. Its largest city and capital is Omdurman. Other major settlements include Khartoum, Khartoum North, and Nyala.

Human civilization emerged in Sudan by the eight millennium BC when people of a Neolithic culture developed a sedentary lifestyle. During the Pharaonic period, the Kingdom of Kerma emerged and later became part of the New Kingdom of Egypt. By 785 BC, the Kingdom of Kush, a Nubian state, was established and gained control over Egypt. Following the collapse of the Kush, the Nubians established three Christian kingdoms: Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia. The latter two states survived until the 16th century as the Bedouin began to gradually settle in most of Sudan. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, much of Sudan was subject to the Sultanate of Sennar.

Slavery played a central role in Sudan during the Mamluk and Ottoman periods. The Mamluks based their slave trading operations in Dunqulah. During Turco-Egyptian rule of Sudan under the Khedivate of Egypt, slave trade became extensive and a north-south pipeline emerged, with slaves forcibly taken from southern Sudan and sent north into Egypt and the rest of the Ottoman Empire.

Sudanese dissent and nationalism grew during Khedivate rule and coalesced into the religious and political rise of the Mahdists. Muhammad Ahmad ibn Abd Allah, the self-proclaimed Mahdi, rose to power and led a revolt against the Ottomans and Egyptians. The Mahdists achieved victory during the Siege of Khartoum but six months following this, Ahmad died. Following a power struggle between Ahmad's deputies, Abdallahi ibn Muhammad became the undisputed leader of the early Mahdist state and assumed the title of Khalifa. The Ansar were appointed as emirs over the Sudanese provinces, a model which laid the groundwork of the modern Sudanese federal system. Sudan formed a political alliance with Ethiopia and repelled an Anglo-Egyptian attempt to reassert control over Sudan during the late 1890s.

During the early 20th century, Sudan saw centralization of power in Omdurman and the suppression of religious minorities. Sudan became embroiled in internal divisions along ethnic, cultural, and religious lines. Relations with Ethiopia soured during Great War I when the Ethiopian state, a Christian-majority state, began supporting increased autonomy in Southern Sudan for the Nilotic Christian population. Sudan remains in a state of armed conflict on various fronts. In western Sudan, Darfuri rebels fought for independence which the Sudanese government sought but failed to suppress, and a continued conflict between Darfur and Sudan plagues the western regions. In eastern Sudan, a coalition of predominantly Beja rebel groups, known as the Eastern Front, have waged an insurgency. In southern Sudan, various rebel groups fight the Sudanese government in an effort to secure the southern areas for a variety of regions. The conflict remains a major issue in Sudanese politics, and has destabilized the country greatly.

The government of Sudan is an Islamic theocracy that includes some elements of a federal presidential system, with ultimate authority vested in the Khalifa. The head of government is the President who administrates the government on behalf of the Khalifa. The Consultative Assembly of Sudan, also known as the Shura Council, is the deliberative and advisory body of the government. The Sudanese government has been described as authoritarian and has a history of repressing civil liberties and violating human rights.

The Sudanese economy is among the world's fastest growing economies as of 2022 and is supported largely by its large reserves of fossil fuels (namely petroleum) and minerals such as gold, copper, iron, and titanium. It is a member state of the League of Nations, the Arab League, the African Union, Organisation for Islamic Cooperation, and OPEC.

Etymology

Hieroglyphic mural depicting the Nubians offering gifts to King Tutankhamun in the Tomb of Amenhotep-Huy

The name Sudan was a name historically associated with both the Sahel region of West Africa that stretched from the present-day Equatorial States by the Atlantic to Northeast Africa including Sudan, and the more limited designation of present-day Sudan and its immediate vicinity. The name originates from the Arabic appellation for the region bilād as-sūdān (بلاد السودان), or "The Land of the Blacks". The name "Sudan" shares similar etymologies with other names associated with the region that referred to its inhabitants' skin color and appearance. Other names that Sudan was known by in historical times included Nubia, Te Nehesi, and Ta Seti by the ancient Egyptians.

Officially, Sudan is known as the "Mahdist State of the Sudan". In the English-speaking world, Sudan has occasionally been referred to as "The Sudan" with a definite article to denote the Sudan region. The "Mahdist State" is a reference to its connection with the theocratic form of government that Sudan has adopted since Muhammad Ahmad bin Abdullah, regarded as the Mahdi (an Islamic messianic figure), led a political and religious movement to secure Sudan's independence under the ideology of Mahdism.

Geography

Sudan has a total area of 1,413,479 km² (545,747 sq mi). It has land borders with Egypt to the north, Ethiopia to the southeast, South Sudan to the south, Ubangi-Shari to the southwest, Darfur to the west, and Libya to the northwest. It borders the Red Sea to the east and has maritime borders with Hashemite Arabia. It is the fourth-largest country in Africa. Sudan is located between 8° and 23° N.

Sudan is geographically varied and features deserts, plains, mountains, and valleys. Northern Sudan is defined by two regions: the Nile Valley and the desert. To the west of the Nile River is the Libyan Desert and to the east lies the Nubian Desert. The desert regions are among the driest places in the world and the Nubian Desert lacks any oases. The Libyan Desert is home to a number of small watering holes and wadis. Western Central Sudan contains the emirate of Kurdufan which is mainly an undulating plain that is notably absent of any perennial streams and contains the Nuba Mountains in the southeasternmost region. To the east of the Nuba Mountains lie the central clay plains that feature low ridge slopes and hills which occasionally interrupt the otherwise flat terrain. The Blue Nile and White Nile flow through this region before converging together in Khartoum to form the Nile which flows northward into Egypt and discharges into the Mediterranean Sea. Sudan's other major rivers: Dinder and Rahad River also flow through this area and meet along the Nile's course.

Politics

Ja'afar ibn Abdalla
(Khalifa)

Tahani Kebir
(President)

Sudan is governed as an Islamic theocracy with elements of a federalist presidential system. It has been described by political analysts as a unique form of government that is not easily categorizable in standard political typology. The current political system is based on the 1954 Constitution. The Sudanese government has been described as somewhat totalitarian yet holds regular elections featuring candidates who advocate varying policies and incumbents who are not immune to electoral defeat. As a federation, Sudan is divided into six emirates, which are each headed by an emir who governs their respective emirate accordingly. The emirs play a role in the Constitutional Council of Sudan, a legislative council chaired by the Khalifa who oversees the functions and duties of the Consultative Assembly of Sudan and the President. Power is shared between the federal and state governments.

Law

The legal system of Sudan is based largely on Sharia, the Islamic law which derives from the Quran and the Sunnah, as well as the sayings and teachings of the Mahdi (as understood by the Sudanese Mahdiyya) and his caliph successors. Secondary sources of law is based on the Sudanese civil code, which itself is based on the Napoleonic Code. The Caliph vests supreme judicial authority and appoints the heads of the Sudanese judicial system including the Supreme Court. Sharia law plays a role in both civil and criminal matters of law.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is the head of the judicial system. Candidates for Chief Justice must be a qualified mujtahid who has fiqh in accordance to the accepted Islamic jurisprudence and state religion of Sudan (Sudanese Mahdiyya, a form of Mahdist Sunni Islam).

Culture

Cuisine

Ful medames, the national dish of Sudan

Sudanese cuisine is influenced by Anatolian, Arab, Egyptian, Levantine, and Nubian cuisine. Common ingredients of central importance in Sudanese cooking include fava beans, peanuts, rice, sorghum, maize, okra, sesame, and cumin. Ful medames (Arabic: فول مدمس, fūl mudammas) is widely considered the national dish of Sudan which is a vegetarian stew consisting of cooked fava beans, olive oil, and cumin, with optional toppings of chopped parsley, garlic, onion, lemon juice, and other ingredients such as boiled egg.

Sudanese breads (known as aisha or aish baladi) such as kisra are commonly eaten with savory stews, cheese, or fava beans. Asida is another type of bread widely consumed in Sudan.

Aside from breads and stews, the most commonly eaten meats are lamb and chicken prepared in accordance to Islamic halal laws and guidelines. Meats are typically incorporated into spiced, savory stews or breads, but may also be prepared alone and dried.

See also

This page uses material from the Wikipedia page Sudan, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (view authors).