Africa Information center

SUDANRepublic of the Sudan

GEOGRAPHY:
• Location:----------------- Northern Africa
• Area:
     Total area:--- 2,505,810 sq. km
     Land area:--- 2,376,000 sq. km
• Capital city:------------- Khartoum
• Natural Resources:---------------- Petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold.
  
  PEOPLE:
• Population:---------------- 41,087,825
• Literacy rate:-------------- 46.1% of total population, (Males:57.7%, Females:34.6%).
• Languages:------------------ Arabic (offical), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English.
• Religious:----------------- 70% Sunni Muslim(in North), 25%-indigenous beliefs, 5%-Christian(mostly in the south and Khartoum).
  
  VITAL STATISTICS:
• Birth rate:------------- 40.54 (per 1,000 population)(1997)
• Death rate:------------- 11.16 (per 1,000 population)
• Infant Mortality rate:------------ 74.3 (deaths per 1,000 live births)
• Fertility rate:--------------- 5.79 (per woman)
• Life Expectancy at birth:
     Total population:--- 55.54 (Males:54.6, Females:56.53).
  
  GOVERNMENT:
• Type of Government:-------------- Republic with strong military influence.
• Independence:-------------- January 1, 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
• Head of State and Govt:-------------- General Omar Hassan Ahmed el-Bashir.
  
  ECONOMY:
• GDP:--------------- purchasing power parity - $26.6 billion (1996)
     GDP real growth rate:--- 4%
     GDP per capita:--- $860
• Inflation rate (consumer prices):------------- 133% (1996)
• National budget:
     Revenues:--- $382 million
     Expenditures:--- $1.06 billion
• External Debt:-------------- $18.5 billion
• Currency:--------------- 1 Sudanese pound = 100 piastres
• Labor force:--------------- 11 million (1996)
• Unemployment rate:---------------- 30%
• Agriculture:---------------- Cotton, oilseed, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic; sheep.
• Industries:--------------- Cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining.
• Exports:---------------- $500 million
     Commodities:--- Cotton, livestock/meat, gum arabic.
• Imports:---------------- $1 billion
     Commodities:--- Foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles.
  
  DEFENCE:
• Defence Expenditures:--------------- $NA, NA% of GDP

Geography:Sudan is located in the northeast Africa. Sudan is the largest country in the continent of Africa. Its neighbors are Chad, central African Republic on the west and Egypt and Libya on the north. Ethiopia and Eritrea to the east and Kenya and Uganda to the south.
Tourism Information:
If you have any information we will be glad to post it.

By Jack Staddon
As far as tourist information is concerned, I was in Khartoum one year
ago, and can say that, as a positive thing, there is not very much motor
traffic in the capital, Khartoum, as compared to other large cities in
developing countries!  So, in terms of air pollution, it is a very
CLEAN city.  Public transport (buses) is crowded, but very
inexpensive, and definitely the way to see how common people live.
Shanty-towns on the outskirts of the capital are accessible via
an older form of public transport--donkey carts.  Many of these
settlements have been torn down, and others are being torn down as part of
a government urban renewal effort which has especially devastated
southern (non-Arab) Sudanese who have fled the war in the south.
Farther out from the city center are formal displaced person camps, but
these require special government permission to visit and are off-limits to
most travellers.  Sudan does not have the extensive tourist attractions 
of say, Egypt, but it is still well worth visiting.  The National
Museum has an extensive collection, and only costs the equivalent of a
few cents U.S. to visit.  The relationship between Sudan and many foreign
nations (e.g. USA, UK) is poor, but as an American I was never in any
physical danger--even after the USA bombed Khartoum last August 20.
But camera-toting tourists beware! A special permit from the government is
required, and, at least in public areas, people tend to be
reticent about being photographed.  Photography of the airport, bridges,
and anything  related to the military is specifically prohibited.  In
terms of lodging, the Hilton is definitely the best, and a nice contrast
from days spent riding public transport and visiting crowded bazaars.
Even if you choose to stay elsewhere, safe, clean, and delicious meals at
the Hilton are a good idea,  costing from $5 - $10 in US equivalent are
worth the price.  One more thing, carry your own bottled water or
buy sodas.  Remember, Khartoum is in the Sahara desert, so you'll need the
liquid!  Whatever you do, do NOT bring in any alcohol.  This is an Islamic
country, and they follow Muslim law very strictly in this matter.

I hope that this will be helpful to tourists.
Interested people may contact me at 
 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 , 

Sincerely,

Jack Staddon
University of Minnesota

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