Sudan

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage and soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
- Languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
  - Mechanized agriculture
  - Subsistence farming and livestock raising
  - Forestry and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance and trade
- Labour and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural milieu
- Traditional cultures
  - Social organization
    - Political and territorial organization
    - Family and kinship patterns
    - Social stratification
    - Socialization and education
  - Economic organization
    - Settlement patterns
    - Production and technology
    - Property and exchange systems
  - Religious practices
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Ancient Nubia
  - Egyptian influence
  - The kingdom of Kush
- Christian and Islamic influence
  - Medieval Christian kingdoms
  - Islamic encroachments
  - The Funj
  - The spread of Islam
- Egyptian-Ottoman rule
  - Muḥammad ʿAlī and his successors
  - Ismāʿīl Pasha and the growth of European influence
- The Mahdiyyah
  - The reign of the Khalīfah
  - The British conquest
- The Anglo-Egyptian Condominium
  - The early years of British rule
  - The growth of national consciousness
- The Republic of the Sudan
  - Coups and conflict with the south
  - The Nimeiri regime
    - The Addis Ababa Agreement
    - Economic development
    - The rise of Muslim fundamentalism
    - Resumption of civil war
    - Nimeiri’s overthrow and its aftermath
  - Sudan under Bashir
    - Ongoing civil war
    - Transition to civilian rule
    - Peace with the south
    - Conflict in Darfur
    - Multiparty elections and preparations for southern independence
    - A new Sudan
      Conflict with South Sudan
      Domestic challenges and the 2015 general elections
      Challenge to Bashir’s rule and the 2019 military coup
  - Transition
  - Tension, protests, and the 2021 military coup
  - Civil war (2023– )

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Political map of Sudan showing its national boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries including Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Disputed borders and the Abyei region are marked, and a small locator map in the corner highlights Sudan's position within Africa.

Ancient pyramids of Meroe in Sudan stand in sandy desert light, with steep sides and small entrance structures at their bases, representing the Kushite culture.

Map of northeastern Africa highlighting Sudan in tan, with its capital Khartoum labeled. Surrounding countries, including Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea, are also shown.

Map of Sudan highlighting major physical features such as deserts, plateaus, mountains, hills, and rivers. Neighboring countries are labeled, and features like the Libyan and Nubian Deserts, Marrah Mountains, Nuba Mountains, and the White and Blue Nile rivers are shown. A shaded area marks the disputed Abyei region along the southern border. An inset locator map shows Sudan's position within Africa.

Map of the Nile River basin showing the river's full course from its sources in East Africa through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The map highlights physical features including elevation, irrigated areas, swamps, sand areas, intermittent streams, dams, waterfalls, rapids, and canals, as well as major lakes and cities along the drainage network.

The journey of camel drivers from Sudan to Egypt

Sudan: Urban-rural

At a Glance

default image

Sudan: Media

country, Africa

Videos

The journey of camel drivers from Sudan to Egypt

The journey of camel drivers from Sudan to Egypt

Watch Sudanese camel drivers lead a herd of dromedaries, or Arabian camels, through...

Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz

Images

Sudan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Political map of Sudan showing its national boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries including Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Disputed borders and the Abyei region are marked, and a small locator map in the corner highlights Sudan's position within Africa.

Sudan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Ancient pyramids of Meroe in Sudan stand in sandy desert light, with steep sides and small entrance structures at their bases, representing the Kushite culture.

Meroe

Pyramids at Meroe, Sudan.

© urosr/Shutterstock.com

Map of northeastern Africa highlighting Sudan in tan, with its capital Khartoum labeled. Surrounding countries, including Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea, are also shown.

Sudan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Sudan highlighting major physical features such as deserts, plateaus, mountains, hills, and rivers. Neighboring countries are labeled, and features like the Libyan and Nubian Deserts, Marrah Mountains, Nuba Mountains, and the White and Blue Nile rivers are shown. A shaded area marks the disputed Abyei region along the southern border. An inset locator map shows Sudan's position within Africa.

Physical features of Sudan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of the Nile River basin showing the river's full course from its sources in East Africa through Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The map highlights physical features including elevation, irrigated areas, swamps, sand areas, intermittent streams, dams, waterfalls, rapids, and canals, as well as major lakes and cities along the drainage network.

Nile River basin and its drainage network

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Port Sudan

Port Sudan

Aerial view of a shantytown in Port Sudan, Sudan.

Geoff Tompkinson/GTImage.com (A Britannica Publishing Partner)

People walk and ride a red cart along the Sennar Dam, which spans the Blue Nile River in Sudan's Al Jazirah region, with a large structure visible in the background.

Sudan: Sennar Dam on the Blue Nile River

Sennar Dam on the Blue Nile River, Sudan.

© Ebrahim Hamid—AFP/Getty Images

Port Sudan

Port Sudan

Container terminal at Port Sudan.

Claus Bunk

Ancient pyramids of Meroe in Sudan stand in sandy desert light, with steep sides and small entrance structures at their bases, representing the Kushite culture.

Meroe, Sudan: Pyramids

Pyramids at Meroe, Sudan.

© urosr/Shutterstock.com

Map showing Ancient Egypt and Nubia during the New Kingdom period, with the Nile River running from Egypt in the north through Lower and Upper Nubia to Sudan in the south. Key locations such as Memphis, Thebes, Aswan, and the six cataracts of the Nile are marked, as well as neighboring regions including Greece, Anatolia, Phoenicia, Palestine, Assyria, and Babylonia.

Nubia

Ancient region of Nubia.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing the Nilotic Sudan region in ancient and medieval times, centered along the Nile River from southern Egypt through Nubia and Alwah to Al-Jazirah in present-day Sudan. Key locations and ancient kingdoms such as Wawat, Nobatia, Nubia (Kush), Maqurrah, and Alwah are labeled, along with neighboring regions like Darfur, Kordofan, and Ethiopia, and major rivers including the Nile, White Nile, and Blue Nile. The Red Sea and notable cities like Thebes, Luxor, Aswan, and Meroe are also marked.

Nilotic Sudan in ancient and medieval times

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Meroe

Meroe

Ruins of pyramids in the ancient city of Meroe, Sudan.

© heckepics—iStock/Getty Images

Map depicting the Nilotic Sudan region from the 17th to the 19th century, showing the Funj kingdom, major towns, rivers, and lakes. The Funj kingdom is outlined, with dashed lines marking the extent of Egyptian influence at various dates. Neighboring regions such as Egypt, Darfur, Equatoria, Ethiopia, and the Congo Free State are labeled, along with prominent geographic features like the Nile, Blue Nile, White Nile, and major lakes.

Nilotic Sudan from the 17th to the 19th century

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Historical map showing the territorial expansion of Egypt under Muhammad 'Ali and Isma'il in the 19th century, with shaded areas indicating lands acquired by each ruler. The map covers northeastern Africa and parts of the Middle East, including Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Crete, Cyprus, and regions of Arabia and the Levant, with labels for dates of acquisition, loss, and battle sites.

Egypt under Muḥammad ʿAlī and Ismāʿīl

Expansion of Egypt under Muḥammad ʿAlī and Ismāʿīl.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Ismāʿīl Pasha

Ismāʿīl Pasha

Egyptian viceroy Ismāʿīl Pasha.

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (Digital File Number: cph 3c04847)

Charles George Gordon

Charles George Gordon

A portrait of Charles George Gordon, by Lady Julia Abercromby; in the National Portrait...

Courtesy of The National Portrait Gallery, London

The tomb of al-Mahdi in Omdurman, Sudan, features a large silver dome flanked by two smaller domes, with arched windows and a palm tree in front.

Omdurman, Sudan: Tomb of al-Mahdī

Tomb of al-Mahdī, in Omdurman, Sudan.

Charles Beery/Shostal Associates

Battle of Omdurman

Battle of Omdurman

Charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman, 2 September, 1898; oil on canvas...

Historical Images Archive/Alamy

British soldiers gather in front of a large arched wall with flags flying above as they take possession of Khartoum after the Battle of Omdurman in 1898.

Battle of Omdurman

British forces occupying Khartoum, following a decisive British victory over Mahdist...

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Map of Africa showing the territorial divisions and colonial possessions by European powers from the late 19th to early 20th century. Countries and regions are color-coded to indicate British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, and German control, with independent countries and British-Egyptian condominium also marked. The map highlights the extent and timing of colonization, with most of the continent under European rule except for Ethiopia and Liberia.

Colonization of Africa by European countries

Map showing the colonization of Africa by European countries in the 19th and early...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Reginald Wingate, 1st Baronet

Reginald Wingate, 1st Baronet

Governor-general of the Sudan, Reginald Wingate, 1st Baronet.

Crooke, W., Sir Reginald Wingate (1906); from Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA). http://hdl.handle.net/1911/20981

Isma'il al-Azhari wearing glasses, a suit, and a tie, shown in a close-up portrait with a slight smile.

Ismāʿīl al-Azharī

Sudanese nationalist leader Ismāʿīl al-Azharī.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Portrait of Dr. John Garang de Mabior on the 2011 South Sudan one pound banknote, showing his face within an ornate oval frame.

John Garang de Mabior

Southern Sudanese rebel leader and politician John Garang de Mabior, as depicted...

© Iryna Tiumentseva/Shutterstock.com

Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, President of Sudan, wearing a suit and tie, speaks at a press briefing with a United Nations backdrop.

Omar al-Bashir

Sudanese Pres. Omar al-Bashir, pictured in 2006.

Erin Siegal/UN Photo

Map of Sudan highlighting the southern region labeled as Southern Sudan, shown as a semiautonomous area prior to independence. The map displays major rivers, neighboring countries, and key cities such as Juba and Malakal, with an inset locating Sudan within Africa.

Southern Sudan

Semiautonomous region of southern Sudan, 2005–11.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Sudan highlighting the non-administrative region of Darfur in the country's west, shaded in light color. The map shows international borders, major cities such as Al-Fashir and Nyala, physical features like the Marrah Mountains and Libyan Desert, and neighboring countries. An inset locator map marks Darfur's position within Sudan and northeastern Africa.

Darfur

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of western Sudan and eastern Chad highlighting Darfur conflict zones and refugee camps. Conflict areas within and outside Darfur are marked, with clusters of refugee camps shown along the Chad border and several camps and internally displaced person (IDP) sites within Darfur. State and international boundaries are indicated, along with major cities such as Al-Fashir, Nyala, and Abeche.

Darfur conflict

Darfur-related conflict zones and campsites for refugees and internally displaced...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Salva Kiir Mayardit

Salva Kiir Mayardit

The president of the government of southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, speaking...

Jenny Rockett

Map showing the Abyei Region, a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan, outlined with a red dashed border. The map highlights the towns of Abyei and Agok along the Al-Arab river, with the region's final status noted as undetermined. An inset locates the Abyei Region within the broader area of Sudan and South Sudan.

Abyei region

The Abyei region, claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Three burnt-out cars sit outside the entrance of a heavily damaged medical center in downtown Khartoum, with shattered windows and debris scattered on the ground.

Khartoum

Burned-out cars outside a once-thriving medical center that was ransacked and destroyed...

© Giles Clarke/Getty Images

Satellite view of El Fasher airport in Sudan shows dark smoke plumes rising near the runway, with burned areas and damaged infrastructure visible around the taxiways.

Al-Fāshir

Satellite imagery showing active smoke plumes rising near the perimeter of Al-Fāshir...

© Vantor—Maxar/Getty Images

Map of the Sahara Desert region in northern Africa showing physical features such as mountain ranges, plateaus, major sand areas, and elevation with color shading. Country boundaries, major cities, and select spot elevations are labeled. An inset locator map highlights the Sahara's position within Africa and the Mediterranean region.

Physiography of the Sahara.

The Sahara.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Sudan, The

Sudan, The

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Audio

National anthem of Sudan

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Sudan.

Interactives

Sudan: Urban-rural

Sudan: Urban-rural

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Sudan: Age breakdown

Sudan: Age breakdown

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Learn about the colonization of Africa, the process of decolonization that led to...

© Encyclopaedia Britannica

VIEW MORE in these related Britannica articles: