A Journey Through Africa’S Third‑Largest Nation：Sudan And Sudanese Culture

Sudan is situated in the northeastern corner of Africa. To the northeast, it borders the Red Sea; to the north, it meets Egypt; to the northwest lies Libya; to the west are Chad and the Central African Republic; to the south is South Sudan; and to the east are Ethiopia and Eritrea. With a land area exceeded only by Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan is the third‑largest country in Africa. Its coastline stretches approximately 720 kilometers.

The entire country is a vast basin that slopes downward from south to north. In the north, sandy desert plateaus dominate, with relatively gentle relief. To the west lie the Kordofan and Darfur highlands, while the southeastern region forms the western slopes of the East African and Ethiopian highlands. Mount Meidob (also called Jabal Marra) reaches 3,088 meters, making it the nation’s highest peak. The Nile River runs the full length of Sudan from south to north; the Blue Nile and White Nile converge on the fertile Gezira Plain.

Sudan’s climate varies greatly from north to south, transitioning from hot desert conditions in the far north to tropical rainforest climates in the south. During the hottest season, temperatures can soar to around 50 °C (122 °

F), and the national annual average temperature is about 21 °C (69.8 °F), making it one of the hottest countries in the world. Rainfall is scarce year‑round, averaging less than 100 mm (4 in) annually. Located in an ecological transition zone, the country is highly vulnerable to droughts, floods, and desertification.

Sudan has a long history of human habitation dating back over 4,000 years. From around 2800 BC to 1000 BC, it was part of ancient Egypt. In 750 BC, the Nubians established the Kingdom of Kush. In the mid‑6th century AD, Christianity spread from Egypt, ushering in a Christian era. The 7th century saw a large influx of Arabs, and by the 13th century, the region had fallen under Arab rule, and Islam rapidly spread. In the 15th century, the Funj and the Sultanate of Darfur emerged as Islamic states. In the 16th century, Sudan came under Ottoman Turkish influence. In the 17th century, the Fur people founded the Kingdom of Kordofan and the Sultanate of Darfur.

In the 1870s, Britain expanded into the Sudan from Egypt. In 1881, Sudanese religious leader Muhammad Ahmad led an uprising against British rule, founding the Mahdist State in 1885. In 1889, Sudan became a condominium of Britain and Egypt. The condominium was abolished in 1951, and a self‑governing government was formed in 1953. On January 1, 1956, Sudan declared independence as the Republic of the Sudan. On May 25, 1969, Jaafar Nimeiry led a military coup, renaming the country the Democratic Republic of the Sudan. On April 6, 1985, another coup brought General Abdel Rahman Swar al‑Dahab to power, and the country’s name reverted to the Republic of the Sudan. In April 1986, elections were held, and Sadiq al‑Mahdi became prime minister. On June 30, 1989, Omar al‑Bashir led yet another military coup, establishing the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation. In October 1993, the council was dissolved, and Bashir assumed the presidency, remaining in power until 2019. In 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed, creating a Government of National Unity with Bashir as president. In January 2011, South Sudan held an independence referendum, which passed with 98.83% approval, and on July 9, 2011, the Republic of South Sudan became a sovereign nation. Sudan and China established diplomatic relations on February 4, 1959.

On February 22, 2019, President Omar al‑Bashir declared a one‑year state of emergency and dissolved the government during a televised address. On April 11, 2019, the Sudanese Armed Forces announced the removal of all of Bashir’s official duties. The following day, April 12, Lieutenant General Abdul Fattah al‑Burhan replaced Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemedti”) as chairman of the Transitional Military Council.

Sudan’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and pastoralism, with an underdeveloped industry and weak infrastructure, making it reliant on both natural resources and foreign aid. The United Nations classifies Sudan among the world’s Least Developed Countries, and it has been ranked by various indices as one of the most politically unstable nations.

Culture
Facial scarification: Widely practiced and seen as a symbol of beauty, facial scarification in Sudan has ancient roots. Originally used to distinguish between tribes, it evolved into markers of religious and family affiliation and later into aesthetic decoration. Boys and girls typically undergo the procedure between ages 13 and 15; men receive one to four linear scars, while women endure five to ten. This folk art is traditionally carried out by community elders or priests.

Traditional dress: The white, collarless, ankle‑length robe (known locally as a “Jalabiya”) is Sudan’s national costume. It features a loose chest, sleeves, and side pockets. High‑ranking officials and government leaders don the Jalabiya during major festivals and religious events. Sudanese Arab women customarily wear long‑sleeved dresses called Sudan toub and, when going out or attending significant gatherings, drape themselves in colorful, embroidered veils and matching headscarves.

Etiquette and customs: Sudanese hospitality is legendary, with great emphasis on courtesy. Meals are often eaten with the right hand, and women generally do not wear face veils indoors. Handshakes and eating both follow right‑hand customs.

Cities & Tourism
Khartoum: The capital and largest commercial and industrial hub, Khartoum has a population of about 6.5 million (2013) and sits at the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. Originally a small fishing village, it became an Egyptian garrison in 1822 and Egypt’s provincial capital in 1823. The Ottoman Turks made it the capital of the Egyptian‑ruled Sudan in 1834; it served as the Anglo‑Egyptian condominium’s capital from 1898 until Sudan’s independence in 1956. Khartoum’s climate is hot and arid, with July highs of 26–42 °C (79–108 °F), earning it a reputation as one of the world’s hottest cities; January lows range from 16–32 °C (61–90 °F).

The name “Khartoum” means “elephant’s trunk,” referring to the way the two Nile branches merge and flow northward. The metropolitan area comprises three districts—Khartoum, Khartoum North, and Omdurman—joined by bridges. Khartoum hosts Sudan’s government and diplomatic missions; Omdurman is the commercial heart, known for its bustling Arab‑style markets, ivory, ebony, and crocodile‑skin crafts, and landmarks like the National Theatre, Parliament Building, and the University of the Holy Qur’an. Omdurman was the Mahdist capital from 1885 to 1898 and preserves several historical sites, including the Mahdi’s tomb and the Khalifa House.

Khartoum’s unique “Meeting of the Waters”—where the milky‑white Nile and the deep‑blue Nile flow side by side without mixing—is a major tourist draw. Along the eastern bank lies Confluence Park, offering panoramic views of this extraordinary natural phenomenon.

Meroë Pyramids: Located about 250 km north of Khartoum, these pyramids served as the royal tombs for the Kushite kings and queens. Although similar in shape to Egypt’s pyramids, they are smaller with steeper sides.

Education & Media
In June 1988, Sudan’s Ministry of Education ended free secondary and higher education, though primary schooling remains free. Educational development is uneven, with the north faring better; nationwide, 41% of the population is illiterate, and 25% of school‑age children are out of school. The University of Khartoum, founded in 1902, is Sudan’s oldest institution of higher learning.

Major newspapers include Al‑Youm Al‑Tali, Al‑Sahafa, and Al‑Tayyar (all in Arabic), while Sudan Horizon and The Khartoum Monitor are published in English. The Sudan News Agency, established in May 1971, maintains bureaus in Nairobi, Mogadishu, N’Djamena, Cairo, and Djibouti. Sudan National Radio, based in Omdurman since 1940, broadcasts in Arabic, English, French, and Somali. Sudan National Television, founded in 1963 and also headquartered in Omdurman, airs about 15 hours of programming daily in Arabic and English, collaborating with other Arab and foreign broadcasters.

Economy & Resources
Sudan’s economy remains one of the United Nations’ Least Developed, with a primary reliance on agriculture and pastoralism, weak industrial output, and heavy dependence on foreign aid. In recent years, oil exports and high crude prices spurred rapid growth, making Sudan one of Africa’s fastest‑growing economies. However, South Sudan’s secession, which took 58% of Sudan’s oil reserves, led to rising prices, currency depreciation, and a sharp drop in fiscal revenue. To mitigate these impacts, the government has increased investment in water conservancy, roads, railways, power plants, education, and health, while seeking to diversify away from oil dependency by prioritizing agriculture.

Sudan is rich in natural resources, including iron, silver, chromium, copper, manganese, gold, aluminum, lead, uranium, zinc, tungsten, asbestos, gypsum, mica, talc, diamonds, oil, natural gas, and timber.

Industry & Agriculture
Industrial development is limited. Key sectors include textiles, sugar, leather, food processing, hemp, tobacco, and cement. In response to economic shifts, authorities have focused on expanding the oil, textile, and sugar industries. By 1999, Sudan had made significant strides in oil production, becoming an exporter; after South Sudan’s 2011 independence, output declined dramatically.

Agriculture underpins Sudan’s economy, employing 80% of the population. Staple crops are sorghum, millet, maize, and wheat. Cash crops—accounting for 66% of agricultural exports—include cotton, peanuts, sesame, and gum arabic. Sudan ranks second globally in long-staple cotton production (after Egypt) and leads Arab countries in peanut output, supplying about half of the world’s exports. Gum arabic, known as the “Rolls-Royce of gums,” is a natural polysaccharide used widely as a food and beverage stabilizer; Sudan is the world’s largest producer, supplying approximately 50,000 tonnes annually. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), prized for its high protein and nutrient content, is Sudan’s second most important fodder crop after sorghum; its year-round harvest cycles and robust yields have attracted foreign investment in extensive plantations.

Tourism & Transportation
Sudan boasts over 700 km of Red Sea coastline, offering activities such as boating, diving, and underwater photography. Its transportation network includes 5,978 km of railways and 37,000 km of roads. Port Sudan handles around 8 million tonnes of cargo annually—about 90% of the country’s seaborne trade. Air transport is vital, with over 100 airports nationwide; Khartoum, Port Sudan, Kassala, and Geneina serve as international gateways.

Foreign Trade
Foreign trade plays a crucial role in Sudan’s economy. In 2014, total trade volume reached USD 16.51 billion—exports of USD 9.24 billion and imports of USD 7.27 billion. Major partners include China, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, the UK, Canada, the USA, Australia, and the EU.

Key exports are Sudanese cotton, sesame, gum arabic, and alfalfa. Cotton has been cultivated since the 18th century, with commercial production starting in 1905; the Sennar Dam, completed in 1925, was pivotal for irrigation. Today, 90% of cotton fields lie in the triangular plain between the Blue and White Niles, producing various fiber lengths. Sudan is the world’s third-largest sesame producer after India and China, leading the Arab region with 80% of its sesame cultivation and accounting for about 40% of Africa’s output. Annual sesame production averages 350,000 tonnes, with around half exported—primarily to China, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Tunisia, and the UAE.