- published: 28 Sep 2012
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- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
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- 13th parallel north
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Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the center of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos, which is still the country's most populous city. At the 2006 census, the city of Abuja had a population of 778,567, making it one of the top ten most populous cities in Nigeria.
Abuja's geography is defined by Aso Rock, a 400-metre monolith left by water erosion. The Presidential Complex, National Assembly, Supreme Court and much of the town extend to the south of the rock.
Other sights include the Nigerian National Mosque and the Nigerian National Christian Centre. The city is served by the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, while Zuma Rock lies nearby. Abuja is known for being the best purpose-built city in Africa as well as being one of the wealthiest and most expensive; however, the population on the semi-developed edges of the city are living in rural areas such as Karu, Nasarawa State.
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Abyei
The Abyei Area (Arabic: أبيي) is an area of 10,460 square kilometres (2,580,000 acres) (4,039 sq mi) in Sudan accorded "special administrative status" by the 2004 Protocol on the Resolution of the Abyei Conflict (Abyei Protocol) in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War. The capital of Abyei Area is Abyei Town. The area is claimed by South Sudan but currently controlled by the northern Sudanese government.
Considered a historical bridge between northern and southern Sudan, the Abyei Area had previously been considered part of the larger Abyei District within the now-abolished state of West Kurdufan. Under the terms of the Abyei Protocol, the Abyei Area was declared, on an interim basis, to be simultaneously part of the states of South Kurdufan and Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
In contrast to the borders of the former district, the Abyei Protocol defined the Abyei Area as "the area of the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms transferred to Kordofan in 1905". In 2005, a multinational border commission established this to be those portions of Kordofan south of 10°22′30″ N. However, following continued disputes that erupted into violence and threatened the CPA, an international arbitration process redrew Abyei's boundaries in 2009 to make it significantly smaller, extending no further north than 10°10′00" N. This revised border has been since endorsed by all parties to the dispute.
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African Union
The African Union (abbreviated AU in English, and UA in its other official languages) is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The most important decisions of the AU are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states. The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Among the objectives of the AU's leading institutions are:
The African Union is made up of both political and administrative bodies. The highest decision-making organ is the Assembly of the African Union, made up of all the heads of state or government of member states of the AU. The Assembly is chaired by Yayi Boni, president of Benin, elected at the 18thordinary meeting of the Assembly in January 2012. The AU also has a representative body, the Pan African Parliament, which consists of 265 members elected by the national parliaments of the AU member states. Its president is Idriss Ndele Moussa.
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Algeria
Coordinates: 28°N 2°E / 28°N 2°E / 28; 2
Algeria
i/ælˈdʒɪəriə/ (Arabic: الجزائر, al-Jazā'ir; Berber: ⴷⵣⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer), officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (الجمهورية الجزائرية الديمقراطية الشعبية, al-Jumhūriyyah al-Jazāʾiriyyah ad-Dīmuqrāṭiyyah ash-Shaʿbiyyah), also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a large country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.
When referring to its land area, Algeria is the largest country in Africa, Maghreb and the Arab World. It is also the largest of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea; it is also the tenth-largest country in the world. The country is bordered in the northeast by Tunisia, in the east by Libya, in the west by Morocco, in the southwest by Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Mali, in the southeast by Niger, and in the north by the Mediterranean Sea. Its size is almost 2,400,000 square kilometres (926,645 sq mi) with an estimated population of 37.1 million as of 2012. Algeria is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, OPEC and the United Nations. The country is also a founding member of the Arab Maghreb Union.
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Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola (Portuguese: República de Angola, pronounced: [ʁɨˈpublikɐ dɨ ɐ̃ˈɡɔla];Kikongo, Kimbundu, Umbundu: Repubilika ya Ngola), is a country in southern Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city. The exclave province of Cabinda has borders with the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Portuguese were present in some—mostly coastal—points of the territory of what is now Angola, from the 16th to the 19th century, interacting in diverse ways with the peoples that lived there. In the 19th century they slowly and hesitantly began to establish themselves in the interior. Angola as a Portuguese colony encompassing the present territory was not established before the end of the 19th century, and "effective occupation", as required by the Berlin Conference (1884) was achieved only by the 1920s. Independence was achieved in 1975, after a protracted liberation war. After independence, Angola was the scene of an intense civil war from 1975 to 2002. The country has vast mineral and petroleum reserves, and its economy has on average grown at a two-digit pace since the 1990s, especially since the end of the civil war. In spite of this, standards of living remain low for the majority of the population, and life expectancy and infant mortality rates in Angola are among the worst-ranked in the world. At the same time, a minority has reached comfortable life standards, and the dominant stratum has succeeded in accumulating considerable wealth, so that social inequality in Angola is one of the highest in the world.
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Arab League
The Arab League (Arabic: الجامعة العربية al-Jāmiʻa al-ʻArabiyya), officially called the League of Arab States (Arabic: جامعة الدول العربية Jāmiʻat ad-Duwal al-ʻArabiyya), is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia (Middle East). It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (renamed Jordan in 1949), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a member on 5 May 1945. The Arab League currently has 22 members (including Syria, whose participation was suspended in November 2011). The main goal of the league is to "draw closer the relations between member States and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries."
Through institutions such as the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League's Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU), the Arab League facilitates political, economic, cultural, scientific and social programs designed to promote the interests of the Arab world. It has served as a forum for the member states to coordinate their policy positions, to deliberate on matters of common concern, to settle some Arab disputes, and to limit conflicts such as the 1958 Lebanon crisis. The League has served as a platform for the drafting and conclusion of many landmark documents promoting economic integration. One example is the Joint Arab Economic Action Charter which sets out the principles for economic activities in the region.
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Australia
Australia (
/əˈstreɪljə/), officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent as well as the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east.
For at least 40,000 years before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who belonged to one or more of roughly 250 language groups. After discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing Crown Colonies were established.
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Azawad
Azawad (Tuareg: ⴰⵣⴰⵓⴷ, Azawd; Arabic: أزواد , Azawād; French: Azawad) is an unrecognised state in North Africa unilaterally declared by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) in 2012 after a Tuareg rebellion drove the Malian Army from the territory. Azawad, as claimed by the MNLA, comprises the Malian regions of Timbuktu, Kidal, Gao, as well as a part of Mopti region, encompassing about 60 percent of Mali's claimed total land area. Azawad borders Burkina Faso to the south, Mauritania to the west and northwest, Algeria to the north and northeast, and Niger to the east and southeast, with undisputed Mali to its southwest. It straddles a portion of the Sahara and the Sahelian zone. Gao is its largest city and the temporary capital, while Timbuktu is the second largest city, and intended to be the permanent capital.
On 6 April 2012, in a statement posted to its website, the MNLA declared "irrevocably" the independence of Azawad from Mali. In Gao on the same day, Bilal Ag Acherif, the secretary-general of the movement, signed the Azawadi Declaration of Independence, which also declared the MNLA as the interim administrators of Azawad until a "national authority" is formed. The proclamation has yet to be recognised by a foreign entity, and even the MNLA's claim to have de facto control of the Azawad region is disputed. The Economic Community of West African States, which refused to recognise Azawad and called the declaration of its independence "null and void", has said it may send troops into the disputed region in support of the Malian claim. On 26 May, the MNLA and its former co-belligerent Ansar Dine announced a pact in which they would merge to form an Islamist state.
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Bahr el Ghazal
The Bahr el Ghazal is a region of western South Sudan. Its name comes from the river Bahr el Ghazal.
The region consists of the states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap. It borders the Central African Republic to the west. It is an area of swamps and ironstone plateaus inhabited mainly by the Dinka people, who make their living through subsistence farming and cattle herding.
It was historically subject to raids by the Fur invaders from the neighboring region of Darfur. The khedive of Egypt made Bahr al Ghazal his province in 1864. Powerful native merchants, who set themselves up as princes complete with armies emerge in area. The most powerful of them, Sebehr Rahma, fought and defeated a joint Turkish/Egyptian force sent to Bahr el Ghazal in 1873. The khedive conceded defeat and made Bahr el Ghazal a nominal province of Egypt, with al-Zubayr as its governor.
The region was visited by the anthropologist Edward Evans-Pritchard in 1929.
The region was later incorporated into Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and became the ninth province after being split from Equatoria in 1948, and later a province, and then state, under the Republic of Sudan. In 1996, the region was divided into the four current districts as part of an administrative reorganisation of the country. During the condominium period of joint British-Egyptian rule, the area was administered by British district officers; because of annual flooding and difficult travelling conditions, the area became part of what was known colloquially in the British Sudan Service as "The Bog", with British District Officers known as "Bog Barons" (Wyndham, 1937).
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Belgium
Belgium (i/ˈbɛldʒəm/ BEL-jəm), officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO. Belgium covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres (11,787 sq mi), and it has a population of about 11 million people. Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speakers, mostly Flemish (about 60%), and the French-speakers, mostly Walloons (about 40%), plus a small group of German-speakers. Belgium's two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. The Brussels-Capital Region, officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking enclave within the Flemish Region. A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in the political history and a complex system of government.
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Benin
Benini/bɨˈniːn/ (formerly, Dahomey), officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, by Nigeria to the east and by Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. A majority of the population live on its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country's largest city. Benin covers an area of approximately 110,000 square kilometers (42,000 sq mi), with a population of approximately 9.05 million. Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with substantial employment and income arising from subsistence farming.
The official language of Benin is French, however, indigenous languages such as Fon and Yoruba are commonly spoken. The largest religious group in Benin is Roman Catholicism, followed closely by Islam, Vodun and Protestantism. Benin is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie, the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, the African Petroleum Producers Association and the Niger Basin Authority.
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Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana (Tswana: Lefatshe la Botswana), is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are properly referred to as "Batswana" (singular: Motswana), but many English-language sources use "Botswanan". Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. It has held free and fair democratic elections since independence.
Botswana is flat, and up to 70% is covered by the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. Its border with Zambia to the north near Kazungula, Zambia is poorly defined but at most is a few hundred meters long.
A mid-sized country of just over two million people, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Botswana was one of the poorest countries in Africa when it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, with a GDP per capita of about US$70. Botswana has since transformed itself, becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in the world to a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of about $14,000. The country also has a strong tradition as a representative democracy.
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Brasília
Brasília (pronounced [bɾaˈziʎɐ] nationwide, in both colloquial and educated speech) is the federal capital of Brazil and the seat of government of the Federal District. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city is located in the Federal District, and is in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,562,963 (3,716,996 in the metropolitan area) as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the fourth largest city in Brazil. However, as a metropolitan area, it ranks lower at sixth. It is listed as a World Heritage Site UNESCO.
As the national capital, Brasília is the seat of all three branches of the Brazilian government. The city also hosts the headquarters of many Brazilian companies. Planning policies such as the location of residential buildings around expansive urban areas, as well as building the city around large avenues and dividing it into sectors, have sparked a debate and reflection on life in big cities in the 20th century. The city's design divides it into numbered blocks as well as sectors for specified activities, such as the Hotel Sector, the Banking Sector or the Embassy Sector. Brasília hosts 124 foreign embassies.
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Brazil
Brazili/brəˈzɪl/ (Portuguese: Brasil, IPA: [bɾaˈziw]), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil, listen (help·info)), is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people. It is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas and the largest lusophone country in the world.
Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km (4,655 mi). It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas region of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos form part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile.
Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to the rank of kingdom and the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was formed. The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808, when the capital of the Portuguese colonial empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal.Independence was achieved in 1822 with the formation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system. The country became a presidential republic in 1889, when a military coup d'état proclaimed the Republic, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to the ratification of the first constitution in 1824. Its current Constitution, formulated in 1988, defines Brazil as a Federal Republic. The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the 5,564 Municipalities.
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso (
i/bərˌkiːnə ˈfɑːsoʊ/ bər-KEE-nə FAH-soh; French: [buʁkina faso]) – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest. The country's capital is Ouagadougou.
Its size is 274,200 square kilometres (105,900 sq mi) with an estimated population of more than 15,757,000. Formerly called the Republic of Upper Volta, it was renamed on 4 August 1984, by President Thomas Sankara, to mean "the land of upright people" in Mòoré and Dioula, the major native languages of the country. Figuratively, "Burkina" may be translated, "men of integrity", from the Mòoré language, and "Faso" means "fatherland" in Dioula. The inhabitants of Burkina Faso are known as Burkinabè (
/bərˈkiːnəbeɪ/ bər-KEE-nə-bay).
Burkina Faso was populated between 14,000 and 5000 BC by hunter-gatherers in the country's northwestern region. Farm settlements appeared between 3600 and 2600 BC. What is now central Burkina Faso was principally composed of Mossi kingdoms. These Mossi Kingdoms would become a French protectorate in 1896. After gaining independence from France in 1960, the country underwent many governmental changes until arriving at its current form, a semi-presidential republic. The president is Blaise Compaoré.
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Burundi
Burundi (pronounced /bəˈɹʊndɨ/), officially the Republic of Burundi (Kirundi: Republika y'u Burundi, [buˈɾundi]; French: République du Burundi, [byˈʁyndi]), is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura. Although the country is landlocked, much of the southwestern border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika.
The Twa, Tutsi, and Hutu peoples have occupied Burundi since the country's formation five centuries ago. Burundi was ruled as a kingdom by the Tutsi for over two hundred years. However, at the beginning of the twentieth century, Germany and Belgium occupied the region, and Burundi and Rwanda became a European colony known as Ruanda-Urundi.
Political unrest occurred throughout the region, in part, because of social differences between the Tutsi and Hutu, provoking civil war in Burundi throughout the middle twentieth century. Presently, Burundi is governed as a presidential representative democratic republic.
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Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon (French: République du Cameroun), is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. The country is called "Africa in miniature" for its geological and cultural diversity. Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. The highest point is Mount Cameroon in the southwest, and the largest cities are Douala, Yaoundé, and Garoua. Cameroon is home to over 200 different linguistic groups. The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi, and for its successful national football team. French and English are the official languages.
Early inhabitants of the territory included the Sao civilisation around Lake Chad and the Baka hunter-gatherers in the southeastern rainforest. Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camarões ("River of Prawns"), the name from which Cameroon derives. Fulani soldiers founded the Adamawa Emirate in the north in the 19th century, and various ethnic groups of the west and northwest established powerful chiefdoms and fondoms. Cameroon became a German colony in 1884.
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Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (English /kəˈnɛəri ˈaɪləndz/; Spanish: Islas Canarias [ˈizlas kaˈnaɾjas, ˈihlah kaˈnaɾjas]), also known as the Canaries (Spanish: Canarias), is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union. The islands include (from largest to smallest): Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, La Graciosa, Alegranza, Isla de Lobos, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste. The Canary Islands are legally recognized as a nationality of Spain. Geographically it is a part of the African Continent.[citation needed]
The archipelago's beaches, climate and important natural attractions, especially Teide National Park and Mount Teide (the third tallest volcano in the world measured from its base on the ocean floor), make it a major tourist destination, with over 12 million visitors per year, especially Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. The islands have a subtropical climate, with long warm summers and moderately warm winters. Due to their location above the temperature inversion layer, these islands are ideal for astronomical observation. For this reason, two professional observatories, Teide Observatory on the island of Tenerife and Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma, have been built on the islands.
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Canberra
Canberra ( /ˈkænbᵊrə/ or /ˈkænbɛrə/) is the capital city of Australia. With a population of 358,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), 280 km (170 mi) south-west of Sydney, and 660 km (410 mi) north-east of Melbourne. A resident of Canberra is known as a "Canberran".
The site of Canberra was selected for the location of the nation's capital in 1908 as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. It is unusual among Australian cities, being an entirely planned city. Following an international contest for the city's design, a blueprint by the Chicago architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin was selected and construction commenced in 1913. The Griffins' plan featured geometric motifs such as circles, hexagons and triangles, and was centred around axes aligned with significant topographical landmarks in the Australian Capital Territory.
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Cape Verde
Cape Verdei/ˌkeɪp ˈvɜrd/ (Portuguese: Cabo Verde, pronounced: [ˈkabu ˈveɾdɨ]), officially the Republic of Cape Verde, is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa. The islands, covering a combined area of slightly over 4,000 square kilometres (1,500 sq mi), are of volcanic origin and while three of them (Sal, Boa Vista and Maio) are fairly flat, sandy and dry, the remaining ones are generally rockier and have more vegetation. However, because of the infrequent occurrence of rainfall the overall landscape is not particularly green.
The name of the country stems from the nearby Cap Vert, on the Senegalese coast, which in its turn was originally named "Cabo Verde" when it was sighted by Portuguese explorers in 1444, a few years before the islands were discovered (verde is Portuguese for "green").
The previously uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th Century, and became important in the Atlantic slave trade for their location. The islands' prosperity often attracted privateers and pirates, including Sir Francis Drake, a corsair (privateer) under the authority of the British crown, who twice sacked the (then) capital Ribeira Grande, in the 1580s. The islands were also visited by Charles Darwin's expedition in 1832. The decline in the slave trade in the 19th century resulted in an economic crisis for the islands. With few natural resources, and without strong sustainable investment from the Portuguese, the citizens grew increasingly discontent with the colonial masters, who nevertheless refused to provide the local authorities with more autonomy. This discontent festered and culminated in 1975, when a movement originally led by Amílcar Cabral who was assassinated on 20 January 1973 then passed onto his half-brother Luís Cabral, achieved independence for the archipelago.
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Central Equatoria
Central Equatoria is one of the ten states of South Sudan. With an area of 22,956 km², it is the smallest South Sudanese state. It was formerly named Bahr al Jabal after a tributary of the White Nile that flows through the state. It was renamed Central Equatoria in the first Interim Legislative Assembly on 1 April 2005 under the government of Southern Sudan. Central Equatoria seceded from Sudan as part of the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011.
The state capital of Juba is also the national capital of South Sudan.
Central Equatoria, like other states in South Sudan, is sub-divided into counties. These are further divided into Payams, then Bomas. Each county is headed by a County Commissioner, appointed by the President. They are
Important cities of Central Equatoria are Juba, Kajo Keji, Liria, Mangalla, Rokon, Tali, Terekeka, Yei, Gemaiza, Tombek, Tindilo, Muni and Rejong. The major border crossing to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is at Dimo.
Major tribes include Bari people, Pojulu, Kakwa, Kaliko, Kuku, Lugbara, Nyangwara, Makaraka and Lulubo. Minor tribes include the Nyepo in Northern Kajo-Keji County and Lokoya along Nimule Road. Erasto Gonda, Senior Folklore Officer for Central Equatoria’s information ministry further details the State's demographics:
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Ceuta
Ceuta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈθeuta]) is an 18.5-square-kilometre (7.1 sq mi) autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. After Spain returned Ifni to Morocco in 1969, Ceuta and Melilla remained the sole Spanish enclave territories within mainland Africa. Ceuta was deemed a part of Cadiz province prior to 14 March 1995, when the city's Statute of Autonomy was passed.
Ceuta (like Melilla) was a free port before Spain joined the European Union. As of 2011, it has a population of 78,674. Its population consists of Christians, Muslims (chiefly Moroccan Arabic speakers), and small minorities of Jews and Hindus. Spanish is the official language.
Morocco had previously called for negotiations on the future of Ceuta, Melilla and a number of Mediterranean islands and enclaves that border it. The majority of the city's population are ethnic Spanish who are opposed to the idea of being ruled by Morocco. A poll conducted by Instituto Opina found that 87.9% of people from mainland Spain consider the two cities to be Spanish.
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Chad
Chadi/ˈtʃæd/ (French: Tchad, Arabic: تشاد Tšād), officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west. Due to its distance from the sea and its largely desert climate, the country is sometimes referred to as the "Dead Heart of Africa".
Chad is divided into multiple regions: a desert zone in the north, an arid Sahelian belt in the centre and a more fertile Sudanese savanna zone in the south. Lake Chad, after which the country is named, is the largest wetland in Chad and the second largest in Africa. Chad's highest peak is the Emi Koussi in the Sahara, and N'Djamena, (formerly Fort-Lamy), the capital, is the largest city. Chad is home to over 200 different ethnic and linguistic groups. Arabic and French are the official languages. Islam and Christianity are the most widely practiced religions.
Beginning in the 7th millennium BC, human populations moved into the Chadian basin in great numbers. By the end of the 1st millennium BC, a series of states and empires rose and fell in Chad's Sahelian strip, each focused on controlling the trans-Saharan trade routes that passed through the region. France conquered the territory by 1920 and incorporated it as part of French Equatorial Africa.
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Comoros
The Comorosi/ˈkɒməroʊz/ (Arabic: جزر القمر, Ǧuzur al-Qumur/Qamar), officially the Union of the Comoros (Comorian: Udzima wa Komori, French: Union des Comores, Arabic: الاتحاد القمري al-Ittiḥād al-Qumurī/Qamarī) is a sovereign, archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa, on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar. Other countries near to the Comoros are Tanzania to the northwest and the Seychelles to the northeast. The capital is Moroni on Grande Comore.
At 1,862 km2 (719 sq mi) (excluding Mayotte), the Comoros is the third-smallest African nation by area. The population (excluding Mayotte) is estimated at 798,000. Its name derives from the Arabic word قمر qamar ("moon"). The archipelago is notable for its diverse culture and history, as a nation formed at the crossroads of many civilizations. It is the southernmost member state of the Arab League. Though in the contested island of Mayotte the sole official language is French, the "Union of the Comoros" has three official languages: Comorian, Arabic, and French.
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Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, (i/ˈkjuːbə/; Spanish: República de Cuba, pronounced: [reˈpuβlika ðe ˈkuβa] (
listen)) is an island country in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. To the north of Cuba lies the United States (140 km or 90 mi away) and the Bahamas, Mexico is to the west, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica are to the south, and Haiti and the Dominican Republic are to the southeast.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on and claimed the island now occupied by Cuba, for the Kingdom of Spain. Cuba remained a territory of Spain until the Spanish–American War ended in 1898, and gained formal independence from the U.S. in 1902. A fragile democracy, increasingly dominated by radical politics eventually evolved, solidified by the Cuban Constitution of 1940, but was definitely quashed in 1952 by former president Fulgencio Batista, and an authoritarian regime was set up, intensifying and catalyzing already rampant corruption, political repression and crippling economic regulations.Batista was ousted in January 1959 by the July 26 movement, and a new administration under Fidel Castro established, which had by 1965 evolved into a single-party state under the revived Communist Party of Cuba, which holds power to date.
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Djibouti
Djibouti (Arabic: جيبوتي Jībūtī, French: Djibouti, Somali: Jabuuti, Afar: Gabuuti), officially the Republic of Djibouti (Arabic: جمهورية جيبوتي Jumhūriyyat Jībūtī, French: République de Djibouti, Afar: Gabuutih Ummuuno, Somali: Jamhuuriyadda Jabuuti), is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east. Djibouti, which had a population of 818,159 at the 2009 census, is one of the least populous countries in Africa.Islam is the largest religion in the country, practiced by 94% of the population. The land was known as Obock and French Somaliland (Côte française des Somalis) in the 19th century; in 1967, it changed its name to Afars and Issas after new treaties with France. The territory was declared an independent nation in 1977 and changed its name to the "Republic of Djibouti" after its principal city. Djibouti joined the United Nations on September 20, 1977. While Djibouti is an independent sovereign state, it maintains deep French relations, and through various military and economic agreements with France, it receives continued security and economic assistance.
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Eastern Equatoria
Eastern Equatoria is one of the ten states of South Sudan. It has an area of 82,542 km². The capital is Torit.
The state shares international borders with Uganda in the south, with Kenya in the south-east and with Ethiopia in the north-east. Domestically, it is bordered by Central Equatoria in the west and Jonglei in the north. The Ilemi Triangle in the east, between Eastern Equatoria and Lake Turkana, is or has been disputed among all three abutting states (South Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia).
Eastern Equatoria state is home to several different ethnic groups. The Toposa, Gie and Nyangathom live in the Kapeota counties in the east of the state. The Didinga, Dodos and Boya live in Budi county around Chukudum. Further west, Lopa/Lafon, Torit and Ikotos counties are inhabited by the Otuho, Lopit, Lango, Pari, and Tenet people who inhabit a portion of Lopit hills after they split from Didinga and Murle early in 19th century and Lokoya of Lowoi. The Acholi, Madi, Iriye and Ofiriha people live in the westernmost Magwi county.
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Egypt
Egypti/ˈiːdʒɪpt/ (Arabic: مصر, Miṣr, Egyptian Arabic: [mɑsˤɾ] ; Coptic: Ⲭⲏⲙⲓ, Kīmi ; Sahidic Coptic: ⲕⲏⲙⲉ, Kēme), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: جمهوريّة مصر العربيّة (help·info), is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world. Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.
Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its over 81 million people live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with most spread across the densely populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.
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Equatoria
Equatoria is a region in the south of present-day South Sudan along the upper reaches of the White Nile. Originally a province of Egypt, it also contained most of northern part of present day Uganda including Albert Lake. It was an idealistic effort to create a model state in the interior of Africa that never consisted of more than a handful of adventurers and soldiers in isolated outposts.
Equatoria was established by Samuel Baker in 1870. Charles George Gordon took over as Governor in 1874, followed by Emin Pasha in 1878. The Mahdist Revolt put an end to Equatoria as an Egyptian outpost in 1889. Later British Governors included Martin Parr. Important settlements in Equatoria included Lado, Gondokoro, Dufile and Wadelai. The last two are in the part of Equatoria that is now in Uganda.
Under Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, most of Equatoria became one of the eight original provinces. The state of Bahr al Ghazal was split from Equatoria in 1948. In 1976, Equatoria was further split into the states of East and West Equatoria. The region has been troubled with violence during both the First and Second Sudanese Civil Wars, as well as the anti-Ugandan insurgencies based in Sudan, such as the Lord's Resistance Army and West Nile Bank Front.
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Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, is a country located in Middle Africa. It has two parts: a Continental Region (Río Muni), including several small offshore islands including Corisco, Elobey Grande and Elobey Chico; and an insular region containing Annobón island and Bioko island (formerly Fernando Po) where the capital Malabo is situated.
Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the east is the mainland region. Equatorial Guinea is bordered by Cameroon on the north, Gabon on the south and east, and the Gulf of Guinea on the west, where the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is located between Bioko and Annobón. Formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea, its post-independence name is suggestive of its location near both the equator and the Gulf of Guinea. Besides the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla on the Mediterranean coast next to Morocco, it is the only territory in mainland Africa with Spanish as the official language.
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Eritrea
Eritrea ( /ˌɛrɨˈtreɪ.ə/ or /ˌɛrɨˈtriːə/;Ge'ez: ኤርትራ ʾErtrā, Arabic: إرتريا Iritrīyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea is the Italian form of the Greek name Ἐρυθραίᾱ (Erythraíā), meaning "red [land]". The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. The northeast and east of the country has an extensive coastline on the Red Sea, directly across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands are part of Eritrea. Eritrea's size is approximately 117,600 km2 (45,406 sq mi) with an estimated population of 6 million.
Together with northern Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and the Red Sea coast of Sudan, Eritrea is considered the most likely location of the land known to the ancient Egyptians as Punt (or "Ta Netjeru", meaning "God's Land"), whose first mention dates to the 25th century BC. The ancient Puntites were a nation of people that had close relations with Pharaonic Egypt during the times of Pharaoh Sahure and Queen Hatshepsut.
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Ethiopia
Ethiopia ( /ˌiːθiˈoʊpiə/) (Ge'ez: ኢትዮጵያ ʾĪtyōṗṗyā), officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2. Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Sudan and South Sudan to the west, and Kenya to the south. With its capital at Addis Ababa, it is also the most populous landlocked nation in the world.
Ethiopia was a monarchy for most of its history, and the Ethiopian dynasty traces its roots to the 2nd century BC. Ethiopia is also one of the oldest sites of human existence known to scientists today, having yielded some of humanity's oldest traces. It may be the region from which Homo sapiens first set out for the Middle East and points beyond. Alongside Rome, Persia, China and India, the Ethiopian Aksum Empire was considered one of the great world powers of the 3rd century. During the Scramble for Africa, Ethiopia was the only African country beside Liberia that retained its sovereignty as a recognized independent country, and was one of only four African members of the League of Nations. After a brief period of Italian occupation, Ethiopia became a charter member of the United Nations. When other African nations received their independence following World War II, many of them adopted the colors of Ethiopia's flag, and Addis Ababa became the location of several international organizations focused on Africa.
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France
France (Englishi/ˈfræns/ FRANSS or /ˈfrɑːns/ FRAHNSS; French: [fʁɑ̃s] ( listen)), officially the French Republic (French: République française [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]), is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as l’Hexagone ("The Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. It is the largest western European country and it possesses the second-largest exclusive economic zone in the world, covering 11,035,000 km2 (4,260,000 sq mi), just behind that of the United States (11,351,000 km2 / 4,383,000 sq mi).
Over the past 500 years, France has been a major power with strong cultural, economic, military and political influence in Europe and around the world. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonised great parts of North America and Southeast Asia; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built the second largest colonial empire of the time, including large portions of North, West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and many Caribbean and Pacific Islands.
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Gabon
Gabon ( /ɡəˈbɒn/; French pronunciation: [ɡabɔ̃]), officially the Gabonese Republic (French: République Gabonaise) is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west. It covers a land area of nearly 270,000 km² and has an estimated population of 1,500,000. Its capital and largest city is Libreville.
Since its independence from France on August 17, 1960, Gabon has been ruled by three presidents. In the early 1990s, Gabon introduced a multi-party system and a new democratic constitution that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and reformed many governmental institutions. Gabon is also a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2010-2011 term.
Low population density together with abundant natural resources and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the most prosperous countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the highest HDI and the third highest GDP per capita (PPP) (after Equatorial Guinea and Botswana) in the region.
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Germany
Germany (i/ˈdʒɜrməni/), officially the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland, pronounced [ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant] ( listen)), is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate. With 81.8 million inhabitants, it is the most populous member state and the largest economy in the European Union. It is one of the major political powers of the European continent and a technological leader in many fields.
A region named Germania, inhabited by several Germanic peoples, was documented before AD 100. During the Migration Period, the Germanic tribes expanded southward, and established successor kingdoms throughout much of Europe. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire. During the 16th century, northern German regions became the centre of the Protestant Reformation while southern and western parts remained dominated by Roman Catholic denominations, with the two factions clashing in the Thirty Years' War, marking the beginning of the Catholic–Protestant divide that has characterized German society ever since. Occupied during the Napoleonic Wars, the rise of Pan-Germanism inside the German Confederation resulted in the unification of most of the German states into the German Empire in 1871 which was Prussian dominated. After the German Revolution of 1918–1919 and the subsequent military surrender in World War I, the Empire was replaced by the Weimar Republic in 1918, and partitioned in the Treaty of Versailles. Amidst the Great Depression, the Third Reich was proclaimed in 1933. The latter period was marked by Fascism and World War II. After 1945, Germany was divided by allied occupation, and evolved into two states, East Germany and West Germany. In 1990 Germany was reunified.
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Ghana
Ghanai/ˈɡɑːnə/ is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The word Ghana means "Warrior King" and is derived from the ancient Ghana Empire.
Ghana was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a number of ancient predominantly Akan kingdoms, including the inland Ashanti Empire, the Akwamu, the Akyem, the Bonoman, the Denkyira, and the Fante among others. Non-Akan states created by the Ga also existed as did states by the Dagomba. Prior to contact with Europeans trade between the Akan and various African states flourished due to Akan's gold wealth. Trade with European states began after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century, and the British established the Gold Coast Crown colony in 1874 over parts but not all of the country.
The Gold Coast achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, becoming the First sub-Saharan African nation to do so from European Colonialism. The name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana, which once extended throughout much of west Africa.
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Gondokoro
Gondokoro was a trading-station on the east bank of the White Nile in Southern Sudan, 750 miles south of Khartoum. Its importance lay in the fact that it was within a few miles of the limit of navigability of the Nile from Khartoum upstream. From this point the journey south to Uganda was continued overland.
The Austrian Catholic missionary Ignatius Knoblecher set up a mission there in 1852. It was abandoned in 1859. Gondokoro was the scene for the arrival of John Hanning Speke and James Augustus Grant after their two years and five months long journey through Central Africa from Zanzibar. They arrived exhausted on February 13, 1863 and expected to be met by the British consul John Petherick and his rescue party. As Petherick was away, hunting in the countryside the two explorers instead were welcomed by Samuel Baker and his wife Florence, who greeted them with a cup of tea.
A passage from Alan Moorehead´s The White Nile (p. 61) describes it thus: "The sportsman Samuel Baker and his wife had come up the Nile to look for them, and there had been others as well who had arrived at Gondokoro on the same mission, three Dutch ladies, the Baroness van Capellan and Mrs and Miss Tinne, but they had been forced to return to Khartoum through sickness. ... 'Speke', Baker says, 'appeared the more worn of the two: he was excessively lean, but in reality he was in good tough condition; he had walked the whole way from Zanzibar, never having once ridden during that wearying march. Grant was in honourable rags; his bare knees projecting through the remnants of trousers that were an exhibition of rough industry tailor's work.'"
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Greater Upper Nile
The Greater Upper Nile is a region of northeastern South Sudan. It is named for the White Nile, a tributary of the Nile River in North and East Africa.
The region consists of the states of Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile. It borders Ethiopia to the east and the Republic of the Sudan to the north. The South Sudanese region of Bahr el Ghazal lies to the west and the region of Equatoria lies to the south of Greater Upper Nile.
The Greater Upper Nile region seceded from the Republic of Sudan on 9 July 2011 along with its fellow Southern Sudanese regions of Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria. The three regions now constitute the Republic of South Sudan.
Media related to Greater Upper Nile at Wikimedia Commons
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Guinea
Guineai/ˈɡɪni/, officially the Republic of Guinea (French: République de Guinée), is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea (Guinée française), it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Guinea has almost 246,000 square kilometres (94,981 sq mi) and a population of 10,057,975. It forms a crescent by curving from its western border on the Atlantic Ocean toward the east and the south. Its northern border is shared with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali, the southern one with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire. The Niger River's source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea.
Guinea is geographically divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures. Conakry is the capital, largest city and economic centre. The other major cities in the country include Kankan, Nzérékoré, Kindia, Labe, Guéckédou, Mamou and Boke.
Guinea's 10 million people belong to twenty-four ethnic groups. The largest and most prominent groups are the Fula 40%, Mandingo 30%, and Susu 20%.
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Heglig
Heglig (also spelled Heglieg) is a disputed small town in South Kordofan state in Sudan, claimed by South Sudan as a part of Warrap. The area was contested during the Sudanese Civil War. In mid-April 2012, the South Sudanese army captured the Heglig oil field from Sudan.
Sudan managed to take back the oil-rich region of Heglig in South Kordofan after a 10-day occupation by South Sudan’s army (SPLA). Officials in South Sudan denied being forced out and insisted that they voluntarily withdrew.
Heglig is the Arabic name of the "desert date", the fruit of the Balanites aegyptiaca tree, which is found in most parts of Africa and the Middle East. Sudanese Sufis use heglig (lalob) seeds to make rosaries. Lalob is also a favorite food for camels. South Sudan does not recognise the name Heglig for the town. During the 10-day occupation by the SPLA, South Sudan named the town Panthou, a Dinka translation of the word heglig.
Heglig is situated within the Muglad Basin, a rift basin which contains much of Sudan's proven oil reserves. The Heglig oil field was first developed in 1996 by Arakis Energy (now part of Talisman Energy). Today it is operated by the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company. Production at Heglig is reported to have peaked in 2006 and is now in decline. The Heglig oil field is connected to Khartoum and Port Sudan via the Greater Nile Oil Pipeline.
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Italy
Italyi/ˈɪtəli/ (Italian: Italia [iˈtaːlja]), officially the Italian Republic or the Republic of Italy (Italian: Repubblica italiana), is a unitary parliamentary republic in south-central Europe. To the north, it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia along the Alps. To the south, it consists of the entirety of the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Sardinia–the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea–and many other smaller islands. The independent states of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within Italy, while Campione d'Italia is an Italian exclave in Switzerland. The territory of Italy covers some 301,338 km2 (116,347 sq mi) and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. With 60.6 million inhabitants, it is the fifth most populous country in Europe, and the 23rd most populous in the world.
Rome, the capital of Italy, was for centuries a political and religious centre of Western civilisation as the capital of the Roman Empire and site of the Holy See. After the decline of the Roman Empire, Italy endured numerous invasions by foreign peoples, from Germanic tribes such as the Lombards and Ostrogoths, to the Byzantines and later, the Normans, among others. Centuries later, Italy became the birthplace of Maritime republics and the Renaissance, an immensely fruitful intellectual movement that would prove to be integral in shaping the subsequent course of European thought.
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Jonglei
Jonglei is one of the 10 states of South Sudan. It is the largest state by area, with approximately 122,479 km2, as well as the most populous according to the controversial 2008 census conducted during present-day South Sudan's second period of autonomy. Mading-Bor is the capital of the state. The current governor of Jonglei State is Kuol Manyang Juuk. Jonglei seceded from Sudan as part of the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011.
It is the area of origin of the Second Sudanese Civil War that began in 1983.[citation needed] Jonglei is suffering from tribal infighting. South Sudanese forces and approximately 400 UN Peacekeepers have been dispatched to try and defuse the situation. The most recent clashes were due to Murle and Nuer tribes fighting over cattle.
Jonglei State is divided into 11 counties: Twic East County, Duk County, Bor County, Akobo County, Nyirol County, Uror County, Pibor County, Pochalla County, Ayod County, Pigi County and Fangak County. Each county is headed by a Commissioner appointed by the President of South Sudan in conjunction with State Governor as per request of the local population. Jonglei State is inhabited by six tribes, namely the Murle, Dinka [Bor Dinka], Nuer (Naath), Anyuak, Jie and the Kachipo at the border of Ethiopia in the East of Boma. Jonglei State is bordered by Ethiopia in the East, Eastern Equatoria to the South East, Central Equatoria to the South, Lakes state to the south west, Unity state to west and Upper Nile to the North. For many years, Jonglei State had been the center of politics dating back to the failed project of the Jonglei Canal and the Mutiny of the Anyanya 2 in 1975 and again in 1983.
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Juba
Juba is the capital and largest city of the Republic of South Sudan. It also serves as the capital of Central Equatoria, the smallest of the ten states of South Sudan. The city is situated on the White Nile and functions as the seat and metropolis of Juba County.
In 2005, Juba's population was 163,442. Based on analysis of aerial photos, the best estimate of several donors working in Juba calculated the 2006 population at approximately 250,000. The 5th Sudan Population and Housing Census took place in April/May 2008, stating the population of Juba County to be 372,413 (the majority residing in Juba City, which dominates the county), but the results were rejected by the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan. Juba is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, and is developing very rapidly due to oil money and the Chinese coming for work and development. In 2011, the population of the city of Juba is estimated at approximately 372,410.
Population growth:
In the 19th century, a trading post and a mission was located in the vicinity of Juba called Gondokoro. It was the southernmost outpost of the Egyptian garrison, supported by a handful of soldiers, mostly ill due to the malaria and blackwater fever that was dominant in the region. Gondokoro was also the base of the explorer and campaigner Sir Samuel Baker during his expeditions to what is now Southern Sudan and northern Uganda from 1863 to 1865, and from 1871 to 1873.
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Juba Airport
Juba Airport (IATA: JUB, ICAO: HSSJ) is the main airport in Juba, South Sudan.
The airport is located in the capital city of Juba, South Sudan. The airport lies to the northeast of the Central business district of the city, on the western banks of the White Nile.
Juba Airport is one of the two international airports in South Sudan, the other one being Malakal International Airport (IATA: MAK, ICAO: HSSM). Juba Airport handles international and local airlines, cargo air traffic and chartered commercial flights. It is also used by the South Sudanese military and by the United Nations relief flights for the country. The airport lies at an elevation of 461 metres (1,512 ft) above sea level, and has one runway that measures 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) in length.
As of May 2011[update], Juba International Airport was undergoing improvements and expansion. The work on the airport included expansion of the passenger and cargo terminal buildings, resurfacing of the runway and installation of landing lights to facilitate night operations.
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Juba County
Juba County is an administrative area in Central Equatoria state, South Sudan. It is the largest county in Central Equatoria and one of the largest in the entire region of Equatoria. Its county seat is Juba, the state capital of Central Equatoria and the national capital of the Republic of South Sudan. Its population according to the disputed 2008 census conducted by the Republic of the Sudan, prior to South Sudanese independence, was 372,413.
As of 2011, the county's payams, or sub-counties, include Bungu, Dollo (or Dolo), Ganji, Gondokoro, Lirya, Lo'bonok, Lokiliri, Mangalla (or Mangala), Northern Bari, Rejaf, Rokon, Tijor, and Wonduruba, the latter of which is administrated by Central Equatoria state. Former payams that are now defunct included Jokala, Juba, Kator, and Muniki. In March 2011, Juba, Kator, and Muniki payams were consolidated into Juba proper under the administration of the Juba City Council.
The county also includes part of Bandingilo National Park in its northeast. It borders Terekaka County to its north and Lainya and Kajo Keji counties to its south, as well as Mundri East and Mundri West counties in the state of Western Equatoria to its west, and Eastern Equatoria, namely Lapon, Magwi, and Torit counties, to its east.
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Kenya
Kenya ( /ˈkɛnjə/ or /ˈkiːnjə/), officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator. With the Indian Ocean to its south-east, it is bordered by Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north-east. Kenya has a land area of 580,000 km2 and a population of nearly 41 million, representing 42 different peoples and cultures. The country is named after Mount Kenya, a significant landmark and second among Africa's highest mountain peaks. Kenya's capital and largest city is Nairobi.
Kenya has a warm and humid climate along its coastline on the Indian Ocean which changes to wildlife-rich savannah grasslands moving inland towards the capital Nairobi. Nairobi has a cool climate that gets colder approaching Mount Kenya, which has three permanently snow-capped peaks. The warm and humid tropical climate reappears further inland towards lake Victoria, before giving way to temperate forested and hilly areas in the western region. The North Eastern regions along the border with Somalia and Ethiopia are arid and semi-arid areas with near-desert landscapes. Lake Victoria, the world's second largest fresh-water lake (after Lake Superior in the US and Canada) and the world's largest tropical lake, is situated to the southwest and is shared with Uganda and Tanzania. Kenya is famous for its safaris and diverse world-famous wildlife reserves such as Tsavo National Park, the Maasai Mara, Nakuru National Park, and Aberdares National Park.
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Khartoum
Khartoum (Arabic: الخرطوم al Ḫarṭūm) is the capital and second largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran", meaning the Confluence. The main Nile continues to flow north towards Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.
Divided by the Niles, Khartoum is a tripartite metropolis with an estimated overall population of over five million people consisting of Khartoum proper[clarification needed], and linked by bridges to Khartoum North called (al-Khartūm Bahrī) and Omdurman (Umm Durmān) to the west.
The origin of the word is uncertain. One tradition is that khartoum derives from Arabic kartūm الخرطوم meaning 'end of an elephant’s trunk', probably referring to the narrow strip of land extending between the Blue and White Niles. Captain J. A. Grant, who reached Khartoum in 1863 with Captain Speke’s expedition, thought that the derivation was most probably from the Arabic qurtum, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), which was cultivated extensively in Egypt for its oil, used in burning.[citation needed]
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Lesotho
Lesotho (i/lɨˈsuːtuː/ li-SOO-too), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, completely surrounded by its only neighboring country, the Republic of South Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name Lesotho translates roughly into the land of the people who speak Sesotho. About 40% of the population live below the international poverty line of US $1.25 a day.
The earliest known inhabitants of the area were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. They were largely replaced by Wasja-speaking tribes during Bantu migrations. The Sotho-Tswana people colonized the general region of South Africa between the 3rd and 11th centuries.
The present Lesotho (then called Basutoland) emerged as a single polity under king Moshoeshoe I in 1822. Moshoeshoe, a son of Mokhachane, a minor chief of the Bakoteli lineage, formed his own clan and became a chief around 1804. Between 1821 and 1823, he and his followers settled at the Butha-Buthe Mountain, joining with former adversaries in resistance against the Lifaqane associated with the reign of Shaka Zulu from 1818 to 1828.[citation needed]
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Liberia
Liberiai/laɪˈbɪəriə/, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Ivory Coast on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open to a plateau of drier grasslands. The country possesses 40% of the remaining Upper Guinean rainforest. Liberia has a hot equatorial climate, with significant rainfall during the May to October rainy season and harsh harmattan winds the remainder of the year. Liberia covers an area of 111,369 km2 (43,000 sq mi) and is home to about 3.7 million people. English is the official language, while over 30 indigenous languages are spoken within the country.
Along with Ethiopia, Liberia is one of the two modern countries in Sub-Saharan Africa without roots in the European colonization of Africa. Beginning in 1820, the region was colonized by freed American slaves with the help of the American Colonization Society, a private organization that believed ex-slaves would have greater freedom and equality in Africa. Slaves freed from slave ships were also sent there instead of being repatriated to their countries of origin. In 1847, these colonists founded the Republic of Liberia, establishing a government modeled on that of the United States and naming the capital city Monrovia after James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States and a prominent supporter of the colonization. The colonists, known as Americo-Liberians, led the political and economic sectors of the country.
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Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States of America, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in four buildings in Washington, D.C., as well as the Packard Campus in Culpeper, Virginia, it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and number of books. The head of the Library is the Librarian of Congress, currently James H. Billington.
The Library of Congress was instituted for Congress in 1800, and was housed in the United States Capitol for most of the 19th century. After much of the original collection had been destroyed during the War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson sold 6,487 books, his entire personal collection, to the library in 1815. After a period of decline during the mid-19th century the Library of Congress began to grow rapidly in both size and importance after the American Civil War, culminating in the construction of a separate library building and the transference of all copyright deposit holdings to the Library. During the rapid expansion of the 20th century the Library of Congress assumed a preeminent public role, becoming a "library of last resort" and expanding its mission for the benefit of scholars and the American people.
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Libya
Libya (Arabic: ليبيا Lībyā), Berber: ⵍⵉⴱⵢⴰ) is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west.
With an area of almost 1.8 million square kilometres (700,000 sq mi), Libya is the third largest country in Africa by area, and the 17th largest in the world. The largest city, Tripoli, is home to 1.7 million of Libya's 6.4 million people. The three traditional parts of the country are Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica.
In 2009 Libya had the highest HDI in Africa and the fourth highest GDP (PPP) per capita in Africa, behind Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Libya has the 10th-largest proven oil reserves of any country in the world and the 17th-highest petroleum production.
As a result of the Libyan civil war, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, which had at that time been in existence for 34 years, collapsed and Libya entered a period of governance by a transitional administration called the National Transitional Council. The NTC has stated its intention to oversee the first phase of a transition to constitutional democracy, after which it claims it will dissolve in favor of a representative legislature.
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Madagascar
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic, Malagasy: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara [republiˈkʲan madaɡasˈkʲarə̥], French: République de Madagascar) is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago, allowing plants and animals on the island to evolve in complete isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot in which over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by human settlement.
Initial human settlement of Madagascar occurred from 350 BCE and 550 CE by Austronesian peoples arriving on outrigger canoes from Borneo who were later joined around 1000 CE by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique Channel. Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into eighteen or more sub-groups of which the largest are the Merina of the central highlands.
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Malakal Airport
Malakal Airport (IATA: MAK, ICAO: HSSM) is an airport in Malakal, South Sudan.
Malakal Airport, (IATA: MAK, ICAO: HSSM), is located in Malakal County in Upper Nile State, in the city of Malakal, near the International border with the Republic of Sudan and the border with Ethiopia. The airport is located just north of the city's central business district, adjacent to the main campus of Upper Nile University.
This location lies approximately 521 kilometres (324 mi), by air, north of Juba International Airport, the largest airport in South Sudan. The geographic coordinates of this airport are: 9° 33' 54.00"N, 31° 39' 36.00"E (Latitude: 9.5650; Longitude: 31.6600).
Malakal Airport sits at an elevation of 393.5 metres (1,291 ft) above sea level. The airport has a single, unlit, asphalt runway, measuring 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in length.
Malakal Airport is the second-largest airport in South Sudan. It one of the two International airports in the country, the other being Juba International Airport, in the capital city of Juba, South Sudan. Malakal Airport serves the city of Malakal and the surrounding communities.
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Malawi
Malawi ( /məˈlɑːwi/; Chichewa [malaβi][need tone]), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Malawi is over 118,000 km2 (45,560 sq mi) with an estimated population of more than 13,900,000. Its capital is Lilongwe, which is also Malawi's largest city; the second largest is Blantyre and the third is Mzuzu. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that inhabit the area. The country is also nicknamed "The Warm Heart of Africa".
The area of Africa now known as Malawi was colonized by migrating tribes of Bantu around the 10th century. In 1891 the area was colonized again, this time by the British. In 1953 Malawi, then known as Nyasaland, became part of the semi-independent Central African Federation (CAF). The Federation was dissolved in 1963 and in 1964, Nyasaland gained full independence and was renamed Malawi. Upon gaining independence it became a single-party state under the presidency of Hastings Banda, who remained president until 1994, when he was ousted from power. Joyce Banda (no relation) is the current president, raised to that position after president Bingu Mutharika died in 2012. She is the first female leader in Malawi. Malawi has a democratic, multi-party government. Malawi has a small military force that includes an army, a navy and an air wing. Malawi's foreign policy is pro-Western and includes positive diplomatic relations with most countries and participation in several international organizations.
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Mali
Malii/ˈmɑːli/, officially the Republic of Mali (French: République du Mali, French pronunciation: [maˈli]), is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with a population of 14.5 million. Its capital is Bamako. Mali consists of eight regions and its borders on the north reach deep into the middle of the Sahara, while the country's southern part, where the majority of inhabitants live, features the Niger and Sénégal rivers. The country's economic structure centers around agriculture and fishing. Some of Mali's natural resources are gold, uranium, livestock, and salt. About half the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.
Present-day Mali was once part of three West African empires that controlled trans-Saharan trade: the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire (from which Mali is named), and the Songhai Empire. In the late 19th century, during the Scramble for Africa, France seized control of Mali making it a part of French Sudan. French Sudan (then known as the Sudanese Republic) joined with Senegal in 1959, achieving independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. Shortly thereafter, following Senegal's withdrawal from the federation, the Sudanese Republic declared itself the independent Republic of Mali. After a long period of one-party rule, a 1991 coup led to the writing of a new constitution and the establishment of Mali as a democratic, multi-party state. On 22 March, 2012, a group of junior soldiers seized control of the country's presidential palace and declared the government dissolved and its constitution suspended. On 6 April, 2012, rebels from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) declared the secession of a new state, Azawad, from Mali.
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Maridi
Maridi is a town in South Sudan.
Maridi is located in Maridi East County, Western Equatoria State, near the international border between South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This location lies approximately 295 kilometres (183 mi), by road, west of Juba, the capital of South Sudan and the largest city in that country. The coordinates of Maridi are: 4° 54' 36.00"N, 29° 27' 0.00"E (Latitude: 4.9100; Longitude: 29.4500).
Boating at Kazana Lake
Aerial View of Kazana Lake
Maridi has been a regional center of government since colonial times. It is also reputed to be a center of education in South Sudan.Yambio is the state capital of Western Equatoria State, which is 140 km from Maridi. Khazana Lake is a popular picnic spot and one can find NGO and UN staff enjoying the scenic beauty on a typical Sunday. The County remains lush green during the rainy season with Mango trees full of fruits. The habitat boosts of a diverse fauna, most common of them being the baboons, deer and the black mamba.
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Mauritania
Mauritaniai/mɔrɪˈteɪniə/ (Arabic: موريتانيا Mūrītānyā; Berber: Muritanya / Agawej; Wolof: Gànnaar; Soninke: Murutaane; Pulaar: Moritani; French: Mauritanie), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in West Africa and in the Maghreb. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara (controlled by Morocco) in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest. It is named after the ancient Berber Kingdom of Mauretania, which later became a province of the Roman Empire, even though the modern Mauritania covers a territory far to the south of the old Berber kingdom that had no relation with it. The capital and largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast.
The government of Mauritania was overthrown on 6 August 2008, in a military coup d'état led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. On 16 April 2009, General Aziz resigned from the military to run for president in the 19 July elections, which he won. In Mauritania about 20% of the population live on less than US$1.25 per day.
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Mauritius
Coordinates: 20°12′S 57°30′E / 20.2°S 57.5°E / -20.2; 57.5
Mauritiusi/məˈrɪʃəs/ (Mauritian Creole: Moris; French: Maurice, pronounced: [mɔˈʁis]), officially the Republic of Mauritius (Mauritian Creole: Republik Moris; French: République de Maurice) is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 870 kilometres (540 mi) east of Madagascar. In addition to the island of Mauritius, the Republic includes the islands of Cargados Carajos, Rodrigues, Tromelin and the Agalega Islands. Mauritius Island is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Réunion 170 km (110 mi) to the southwest and the island of Rodrigues 570 km (350 mi) to the east. The area of Mauritius is 2040 km2; its capital city is Port Louis.
The United Kingdom took control of the islands in 1810, from France during the Napoleonic Wars, and Mauritius became independent from the UK in 1968. It is a parliamentary republic and is a member of the Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the African Union, La Francophonie and the Commonwealth of Nations.
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Mayotte
Mayotte (French: Mayotte, pronounced: [majɔt]; Shimaore: Maore, IPA: [maˈore]; Malagasy: Mahori) is an overseas department and region of France consisting of a main island, Grande-Terre (or Mahoré), a smaller island, Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), and several islets around these two. The archipelago is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, namely between northwestern Madagascar and northeastern Mozambique. Mayotte's area is 374 square kilometres (144 sq mi), and with its estimated 194,000 people is very densely populated (520 /km2 or 1,300 /sq mi). Its biggest city and prefecture is Mamoudzou. The territory is geographically part of the Comoro Islands, but has been politically separate since a 1974 referendum in which it elected to remain under French rule. The territory is also known as Mahoré, the native name of its main island, especially by advocates of its inclusion in the Union of Comoros. In a 2009 referendum, the population overwhelmingly approved accession to status of department (95.2% voted in favour of departmental status). On March 31, 2011, Mayotte became an overseas department.
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Melilla
Melilla (Spanish pronunciation: [meˈliʎa]) is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave on the north coast of Morocco, with an area of 12.3 square kilometres (4.7 sq mi). Melilla, along with the Spanish exclave Ceuta, is one of the two Spanish territories located in mainland Africa. It was regarded as a part of Málaga province prior to 14 March 1995, when the city's Statute of Autonomy was passed.
Melilla (like Ceuta) was a free port before Spain joined the European Union. As of 2008 it has a population of 73,460. Its population consists of Christians, Muslims (chiefly Riffians), and small minorities of Jews. Both Spanish and Tarifit are widely spoken. Spanish is the only official language, while there have been calls to recognise Tamazight, a standardized version of all Berber languages official in Morocco, as well.
Morocco had previously called for negotiations on the future of Melilla, Ceuta and a number of Mediterranean islands which border it. The majority of the city's population are ethnic Spanish who are opposed to the idea of being a part of Morocco. A poll conducted by Instituto Opina found that 87.9% of people from mainland Spain consider the two cities to be Spanish.
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Morocco
Morocco (Arabic: المغرب al-Maghrib ; Berber: ⵍⵎⴻⵖⵔⵉⴱ / ⴰⵎⴻⵔⵔⵓⴽElmeɣrib / Amerruk), officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of about 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², including the disputed region of the Western Sahara, seen by and mostly administered by Morocco as the Southern Provinces. Morocco is part of the Maghreb region, in addition to Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, and Libya, with which it shares cultural, historical and linguistic ties.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. The King of Morocco holds vast executive powers, including the power to dissolve the parliament. Executive power is exercised by the government but more importantly by the king himself. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Assembly of Representatives and the Assembly of Councillors. The king can also issue decrees called dahirs which have the force of law. The latest Parliamentary elections were held in November 25, 2011, and were considered by some neutral observers to be mostly free and fair. Voter turnout in these elections was estimated to be 43% of registered voters, but only about 25% of Moroccan adult citizens actually voted. The rest either chose not to vote or they were not registered as voters. The political capital is Rabat, but the largest city is Casablanca; other main cities include Marrakesh, Tetouan, Tangier, Salé, Fes, Agadir, Meknes, Oujda, Kenitra, and Nador.
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Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Portuguese: Moçambique or República de Moçambique, pronounced: [ʁɛˈpublikɐ di musɐ̃ˈbiki]), is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest. The capital city is Maputo, formerly known as Lourenço Marques.
Between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, Bantu-speaking peoples migrated from farther north and west. Swahili, and later also Arab, commercial ports existed along the coasts until the arrival of Europeans. The area was explored by Vasco da Gama in 1498 and colonized by Portugal in 1505. Mozambique became independent in 1975, and became the People's Republic of Mozambique shortly thereafter. It was the scene of an intense civil war lasting from 1977 to 1992.
Mozambique is endowed with rich and extensive natural resources. The country's economy is based largely on agriculture, but with industry, mainly food and beverages, chemical manufacturing, aluminium and petroleum production, is growing fast. The country's tourism sector is also growing. South Africa is Mozambique's main trading partner and source of foreign direct investment. Portugal, Spain, and Belgium are also among the country's most important partners. Since 2001 Mozambique is one of the world's top ten for annual average GDP growth. However, Mozambique still has one of the lowest GDP per capita, one of the worst human development index and one of the highest inequality in the world, as well as having the world's lowest life expectancy.
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Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia (Afrikaans: Republiek van Namibië, German: Republik Namibia (help·info)), is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990, following the Namibian War of Independence. Its capital and largest city is Windhoek. Namibia is a member state of the United Nations (UN), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU), and the Commonwealth of Nations.
The dry lands of Namibia were inhabited since early times by Bushmen, Damara, and Namaqua, and since about the 14th century AD by immigrating Bantu who came with the Bantu expansion. It became a German Imperial protectorate in 1884 and remained a German colony until the end of World War I. In 1920, the League of Nations mandated the country to South Africa, which imposed its laws and, from 1948, its apartheid policy.
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Niger
Niger (French pronunciation: [niʒɛʁ], but occasionally pronounced as /niːˈʒɛər/ ori/ˈnaɪdʒər/), officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east. Niger covers a land area of almost 1,270,000 km2, making it the largest nation in West Africa, with over 80 percent of its land area covered by the Sahara desert. The country's predominantly Islamic population of just above 15,000,000 is mostly clustered in the far south and west of the nation. The capital city is Niamey, located in the far southwest corner of Niger.
Niger is a developing country, and consistently ranks as one of the lowest ranks of the United Nations' Human Development Index (HDI), 186th of 187 countries in 2011. Much of the non-desert portions of the country are threatened by periodic drought and desertification. The economy is concentrated around subsistence and some export agriculture clustered in the more fertile south, and the export of raw materials, especially uranium ore. Niger remains handicapped by its landlocked position, desert terrain, poor education and poverty of its people, lack of infrastructure, poor health care, and environmental degradation.
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Nigeria
Nigeriai/naɪˈdʒɪəriə/, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. The three largest and most influential ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
In terms of religion Nigeria is roughly split half and half between Muslims in the North and Christians in the South; a very small minority practice traditional religion. Since 2002 there have been a spate of clashes, particularly in the North of the country, between government forces and the Islamists Boko Haram, militant jihadists who seek to establish sharia law.
The people of Nigeria have an extensive history. Archaeological evidence shows that human habitation of the area dates back to at least 9000 BCE. The area around the Benue and Cross River is thought to be the original homeland of the Bantu migrants who spread across most of central and southern Africa in waves between the 1st millennium BC and the 2nd millennium.
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Nimule Airport
Nimule Airport is an airport serving the town of Nimule, in South Sudan.
Nimule Airport (IATA: n/a, ICAO: HSNM) is located in Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria State, in the town of Nimule, near the International border with Uganda. The airport is located approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of the central business district of Nimule in Nimule National Park.
This location lies approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi), by air, southeast of Juba International Airport, South Sudan's largest airport. The geographic coordinates of this airport are: 3° 35' 52.80"N, 32° 5' 24.00"E (Latitude: 3.5980; Longitude: 32.0900). Nimule Airport is situated 680 metres (2,230 ft) above sea level. The airport has a single unpaved runway, the dimensions of which are not publicly known at this time.
Nimule Airport is a small civilian and military airport that serves the town of Nimule and surrounding communities. There are no known scheduled airlines serving this airport at this time.
Coordinates: 03°35′53″N 32°05′24″E / 3.59806°N 32.09°E / 3.59806; 32.09
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Nuba Mountains
The Nuba Mountains (also referred to as the Nuba Hills) is an area located in South Kordofan, Sudan. The area is home to a group of indigenous ethnic groups known collectively as the Nuba peoples. In the 18th century, Nuba Mountains became home to the kingdom of Taqali that controlled the hills of the mountains until their defeat by Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad. After the Mahdi's defeat by the British, Taqali was restored as a client state. Infiltration of the Messiria tribe of Baggara Arabs has been influential in modern conflicts.
The mountains cover an area roughly 40 miles (64 km) wide by 90 miles (140 km) long, and are 1,500 to 3,000 feet (910 m) higher in elevation than the surrounding plain. The mountains stretch for some 48,000 square kilometres (19,000 square miles). The climate is semi-arid with under 800 mm of rain per year on average, but lush and green compared with most nearby areas. There are almost no roads in the Nuba Mountains; most villages there are connected by ancient paths that cannot be reached by motor vehicles. The rainy season extends from mid-May to mid-October, and annual rainfall ranges from 400 to 800 millimetres (16.4 to 32.8 in), allowing grazing and seasonal rain-fed agriculture.
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Pantelleria
Pantelleria (Sicilian: Pantiddirìa), the ancient Cossyra, is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, 100 km (62.1 mi) southwest of Sicily and just 60 km (37.3 mi) east of the Tunisian coast. Administratively Pantelleria is a comune belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani. With an area of 83 km2 (32 sq mi), it is the largest volcanic satellite island of Sicily.
The island of Pantelleria is located above a drowned continental rift in the Strait of Sicily and has been the locus of intensive volcano-tectonic activity. The 15-km-long (9.3 mi) island is the emergent summit of a largely submarine edifice. Two large Pleistocene calderas dominate the island, the older of the two formed about 114,000 years ago and the younger, Cinque Denti caldera formed about 45,000 years ago. The eruption that formed the Cinque Denti caldera produced the distinctive Green Tuff deposit that covers much of the island, and is found across the Mediterranean, as far away as the island of Lesbos in the Aegean.Holocene eruptions have constructed pumice cones, lava domes, and short, blocky lava flows. Post Green Tuff activity constructed the cone of Monte Gibele, part of which was subsequently uplifted to form Montagna Grande. Several vents are located on three sides of the uplifted Montagna Grande block on the southeast side of the island. A submarine eruption in 1891 from a vent off the northwest coast is the only confirmed historical activity.
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Pibor
Pibor, also called Pibor Post, is a town in South Sudan.
Pibor is located in Pibor County, Jonglei State, in eastern South Sudan, near the border with Ethiopia. It lies approximately 342 kilometres (213 mi), by road, northeast of Juba, the capital and largest city of the country.
Pibor Post is a colonial era outpost built in 1912 by the British and was originally called Fort Bruce. The town serves as the headquarters of Pibor County, one of the constituent counties of Jonglei State. The Pibor River, formed by the confluence of several smaller streams, begins its journey at Pibor. The river then flows north, receiving the Akobo River near Akobo. Eventually, after receiving the Gillo River and the Bela River, it joins the Baro River to form the Sobat River.
A major gravel road leads north to Akobo at the border with Ethiopia. Another major gravel road leads southwest out of Pibor to the town of Bor, the capital of Jonglei State. The town is also served by Pibor Airport.
As of July 2011[update], it is estimated that the population of Pibor Post is 1,000 people or fewer.
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Port Sudan
Port Sudan (Arabic: بورتسودان Būr Sūdān) is the capital of Red Sea State, Sudan; it has 489,725 residents (2007). Located on the Red Sea, it is the Republic of Sudan's main port city.
Port Sudan was founded by the British in 1909 as the terminus of a rail linking the Red Sea to the River Nile. It served as a new modern port to replace Sawakin. The railroad was used to transport the nation's cotton and sesame seed, as well as sorghum, from the agriculturally rich areas of the Nile valley to markets.
Port Sudan is known among tourists for its excellent scuba-diving and beaches. Tourists, as well as far larger numbers of Muslim pilgrims en route to undertake their once-in-a-lifetime Hajj to Mecca, use Port Sudan as a departure point to cross the Red Sea to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
The harbour is in the mouth of a gulf continuing seaward through a coral-free channel 18–26 meters (60–85 ft) deep. Imports include machinery, vehicles, fuel oil, and building materials. Cotton, gum arabic, oilseeds, hides and skins, and senna are the chief exports. Port Sudan has an oil refinery to handle the petroleum from onshore wells, as well as an oil pipeline to Khartoum that was completed in 1977.
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Portugal
Portugali/ˈpɔrtʃʉɡəl/ (Portuguese: Portugal, IPA: [puɾtuˈɣaɫ]), officially the Portuguese Republic (Portuguese: República Portuguesa) is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula . Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are part of Portugal. The country is named after its second largest city, Porto, whose Latin name was Portus Cale.
The land within the borders of the current Portuguese Republic has been continuously settled since prehistoric times: occupied by Celts like the Gallaeci and the Lusitanians, integrated into the Roman Republic and later settled by Germanic peoples such as the Suebi, Swabians, Vandals and the Visigoths. In the 8th century most of the Iberian Peninsula was conquered by Moorish invaders professing Islam, which were later expelled by the Knights Templar under the Order of Christ. During the Christian Reconquista, Portugal established itself as an independent kingdom from León in 1139, claiming to be the oldest European nation state.
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Ramciel
Ramciel, also spelled Ramchiel, is a place in Lakes, a state in South Sudan, that will serve as the future site of the national capital. It is considered the geographic center of the country and borders Jonglei state to the west. It is very close to the point at which the borders of Central Equatoria, Jonglei, and Lakes, and thus the historical provinces of Equatoria, Greater Upper Nile, and Bahr el Ghazal, touch.John Garang, the first president of Southern Sudan, allegedly wanted to place the national capital in Ramciel during his administration, but he died before South Sudan achieved independence and its largest city of Juba became the capital instead.
The area is inhabited by the ALIAB community group, who cultivate crops in the highlands during the dry season and in the Nile marshes during the wet season. There are conflicting reports over its suitability for larger-scale construction, with some characterising the area as sunken and swampy and others contending that the rocky highlands can support a major city if one were to be built there.
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Rumbek Airport
Rumbek Airport (IATA: RBX, ICAO: HSMK) is an airport in South Sudan.
Rumbek Airport is located in Rumbek Central County, Lakes State, in central South Sudan, near the town of Rumbek. Its location lies approximately 302 kilometres (188 mi), by air, northwest of Juba International Airport, the largest airport in the country. Rumbek Airport is located at an altitude of 420 metres (1,380 ft) above sea level. The geogroaphical coordinates of this airport are: 6° 49' 48.00"N, 29° 40' 12.00"E (Latitude: 6.83000; Longitude: 29.6700).
Rumbek Airport is a small, but expanding airport[citation needed], near the regional capital of Rumbek, the headquarters of Lakes (state). The airport is served by several national airlines and by air charter service providers[citation needed].
Coordinates: 6°49′48″N 29°40′12″E / 6.83000°N 29.67000°E / 6.83000; 29.67000
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Rwanda
Rwanda /ruːˈɑːndə/ or /ruːˈændə/, officially the Republic of Rwanda (Kinyarwanda: Repubulika y'u Rwanda; French: République du Rwanda), is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.7 million (2012). Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. All of Rwanda is at high elevation, with a geography dominated by mountains in the west, savanna in the east, and numerous lakes throughout the country. The climate is temperate, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons every year.
The population is young and predominantly rural, with a density among the highest in Africa. Rwandans form three groups: the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. The Twa are a pygmy people who descend from Rwanda's earliest inhabitants, but scholars disagree on the origins of and differences between the Hutu and Tutsi; some believe that they are derived from former social castes, while others view them as being races or tribes. Christianity is the largest religion in the country, and the principal language is Kinyarwanda, which is spoken by most Rwandans. Rwanda has a presidential system of government. The President is Paul Kagame of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Rwanda has low corruption compared with neighbouring countries, but human rights organisations allege suppression of opposition groups, intimidation, and restrictions on freedom of speech. The country has been governed by a strict administrative hierarchy since precolonial times; there are currently five provinces, which are delineated by borders drawn in 2006.
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Réunion
Réunion (French: La Réunion, IPA: [la 'ʁeynjɔ̃] ( listen); previously Île Bourbon) is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.
Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France. Like the other overseas departments, Réunion is also one of the 27 regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic with the same status as those situated on the European mainland.
Réunion is an outermost region of the European Union and, as an overseas department of France, is part of the Eurozone.
Before the arrival of the Portuguese in the early sixteenth century, there is little to Réunion's recorded history. Arab traders were familiar with it by the name Dina Morgabin,. The island possibly features on a map from 1153 AD by Al Sharif el-Edrisi. The island may also have been visited by Swahili or Malay sailors.
The first European discovery of the area was made around 1507 by Portuguese explorers, but the specifics are unclear. The uninhabited island may have been first sighted by the expedition led by Don Pedro Mascarenhas, who gave his name to the island group around Réunion, the Mascarenes. Réunion itself was dubbed Santa Apolonia after a favorite saint, which suggests that the date of the Portuguese discovery may have been February 9, her saint day. Diego Lopes de Sequeira is claimed to have landed on the island in 1509.
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Senegal
Senegali/ˌsɛnɨˈɡɔːl/ (French: le Sénégal), officially the Republic of Senegal (République du Sénégal, IPA: [ʁepyblik dy seneɡal]), is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north. Senegal is externally bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south; internally it almost completely surrounds The Gambia, namely on the north, east and south, exempting Gambia's short Atlantic Ocean coastline. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi), and has an estimated population of about 13 million. The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.
Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, is located at the westernmost tip of the country on the Cap-Vert peninsula. About 500 kilometres (300 mi) off the coast, in the Atlantic Ocean, lie the Cape Verde Islands. During the 17th and 18th centuries, numerous trading posts, belonging to various colonial empires, were established along the coast. The town of St. Louis became the capital of French West Africa (Afrique occidentale française, or AOF) before it was moved to Dakar in 1902. Dakar later became its capital in 1960 at the time of independence from France.
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Seychelles
Seychelles (i/seɪˈʃɛlz/ say-SHELZ; French: [sɛʃɛl]), officially the Republic of Seychelles (French: République des Seychelles; Creole: Repiblik Sesel), is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar.
Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega and Réunion to the south, Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest. Seychelles, with an estimated population of 86,525, has the smallest population of any African state. It also has the highest Human Development Index in Africa.
Scholars assume that Austronesian seafarers, and later Maldivian and Arab traders were the first to visit the uninhabited Seychelles. Remains of Maldivian mariner presence from the 12th century were found in Silhouette Island. The earliest recorded sighting by Europeans took place in 1502 by the Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama, who passed through the Amirantes and named them after himself (islands of the Admiral).
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Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone (i/siːˌɛrə liːˈoʊn/), officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the northeast, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. Sierra Leone is a constitutional representative democratic republic and covers a total area of 71,740 km2 (27,699 sq mi) Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests. As of 2011, Sierra Leone has an estimated population of 6 million[1] (2011 United Nations estimte). Freetown is the capital, largest city as well as its economic, commercial, educational, cultural and political centre. Bo is the country's second largest city and the second major economic and commercial centre.
Sierra Leone is divided into four geographical regions: the Northern Province, Eastern Province, Southern Province and the Western Area; which are subdivided into fourteen districts. The districts have their own directly elected local government known as district council, headed by a council chairman. The country's six municipalities of Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Koidu Town and the coastal town of Bonthe have their own directly elected city councils headed by mayors.
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Somalia
Somalia ( /soʊˈmɑːliə/ soh-MAH-lee-ə; Somali: Soomaaliya; Arabic: الصومال aṣ-Ṣūmāl), officially the Somali Republic (Somali: Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, Arabic: جمهورية الصومال Jumhūriyyat aṣ-Ṣūmāl) and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory. The internationally recognized Transitional Federal Government controls only a small part of the country. Somalia has been characterized as a failed state and is one of the poorest and most violent states in the world.
Somalia lies in the easternmost part of Africa. It is bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, the Gulf of Aden with Yemen to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, and Ethiopia to the west. It has the longest coastline on the continent, and its terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains and highlands. Hot conditions prevail year-round, along with periodic monsoon winds and irregular rainfall.
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Somaliland
Somaliland (Somali: Soomaaliland, Arabic: صوماللاند Ṣūmālilānd or أرض الصومال Arḍ aṣ-Ṣūmāl) is an unrecognised self-declared de facto sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent on June 26, 1960 as the State of Somaliland, before uniting with the Trust Territory of Somalia (the former Italian Somaliland) on July 1, 1960 to form the Somali Republic.
Somaliland is bordered by Ethiopia in the south and west, Djibouti in the northwest, the Gulf of Aden in the north, and the autonomous Puntland region of Somalia to the east.
In 1988, the Siad Barre regime committed massacres against the people of Somaliland, which were among the events that led to the Somali Civil War. The war left the economic and military infrastructure severely damaged. After the collapse of the central government in 1991, the local government, led by the Somali National Movement (SNM), declared independence from the rest of Somalia on May 18 of the same year.
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South Africa
Coordinates: 30°S 25°E / 30°S 25°E / -30; 25
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of Africa. It is divided into nine provinces and has 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline. To the north of the country lie the neighbouring territories of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe; to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland; while Lesotho is an enclave surrounded by South African territory.
South Africa is multi-ethnic and has diverse cultures and languages. Eleven official languages are recognised in the constitution. Two of these languages are of European origin: South African English and Afrikaans, a language which originated mainly from Dutch that is spoken by the majority of white and Coloured South Africans. Though English is commonly used in public and commercial life, it is only the fifth most-spoken home language. All ethnic and language groups have political representation in the country's constitutional democracy comprising a parliamentary republic; unlike most parliamentary republics, the positions of head of state and head of government are merged in a parliament-dependent President.
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South Kordofan
South Kordofan (Arabic: جنوب كردفان Ğanūb Kurdufān) is one of the 15 wilayat or provinces of Sudan. It has an area of 158,355 km² and an estimated population of approximately 1,100,000 people (2000).Kaduqli is the capital of the state. It is centered around the Nuba Hills. Because among the states in (North) Sudan the only state that is producing oil is the South Kordofan, the ethnic Nubans who live there are being targeted by the northern military.
Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, residents of South Kordofan were to hold popular consultations in 2011 to determine the constitutional future of the state. However, South Kordofan governor Ahmed Haroun suspended the process and violence followed. Haroun had previously been charged with war crimes against civilians and crime against humanity by the International Criminal Court,
Although South Kordofan is part of the (North) Sudan, it is home to many pro-south communities, especially in the Nuba Mountains, some of whom fought alongside southern rebels during the long civil war.
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South Sudan
South Sudan (i/ˌsaʊθ suːˈdæn/ or /suːˈdɑːn/), officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in the east-central African region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN subregion. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more centrally located Ramciel in the future. South Sudan is bordered by Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, the Central African Republic to the west, and Sudan to the north. South Sudan includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd formed by the White Nile, locally called the Bahr al Jabal.
The modern states of South Sudan and Sudan were part of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, later being governed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium until Sudanese independence was achieved in 1956. Following the First Sudanese Civil War, the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A second Sudanese civil war soon developed and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. Later that year, southern autonomy was restored when an Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was formed.
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Spain
Spain (i/ˈspeɪn/ SPAYN; Spanish: España, pronounced: [esˈpaɲa] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish: Reino de España), is a sovereign state and a member of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar; to the north and north east by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal.
Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. Furthermore, the town of Llívia is a Spanish exclave situated inside French territory. With an area of 504,030 square kilometres (194,610 sq mi), it is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France, and the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France.
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Sudan
Sudan (i/suːˈdæn/ or /suːˈdɑːn/;Arabic: السودان, as-Sūdān), officially the Republic of the Sudan (Arabic: جمهورية السودان, Jumhūrīyat as-Sūdān), sometimes called North Sudan, is an Arab state in North Africa (sometimes also considered to be part of the Middle East). It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, and Libya to the northwest. The population of Sudan is a combination of indigenous inhabitants of Nile Valley, and descendants of migrants from the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the process of Arabisation common throughout the rest of the Arab World, today Arab culture predominates in Sudan. The majority of the population of Sudan adheres to Islam. The Nile divides the country between east and west sides.
The people of Sudan have a long history extending from antiquity which is intertwined with the history of Egypt. Sudan suffered seventeen years of civil war during the First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972) followed by ethnic, religious and economic conflicts between the Muslim Arab northern Sudanese and the mostly animist and Christian Nilotes of Southern Sudan. This led to the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1983. Because of continuing political and military struggles, Sudan was seized in a bloodless coup d'état by colonel Omar al-Bashir in 1989, who thereafter proclaimed himself President of Sudan. The civil war ended with the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement which granted autonomy to what was then the southern region of the country. Following a referendum held in January 2011, South Sudan seceded on 9 July 2011 with the consent of Sudan's President al-Bashir.
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Sudd
The Sudd (Arabic سد, sad, "barrier"), also known as the Bahr al Jabal, As Sudd or Al Sudd, is a vast swamp in South Sudan, formed by the White Nile. The word “sudd” is derived from the Arabic word “sadd”, meaning “block.” The term has come to refer to any large solid floating vegetation island or mat. The area which the swamp covers is one of the world's largest wetlands and the largest freshwater wetland in the Nile basin.
The Sudd stretches from Mongalla to just outside the Sobat confluence with the White Nile just upstream of Malakal as well as westwards along the Bahr el Ghazal. The shallow and flat inland delta lies between 5.5 and 9.5 degrees latitude North and covers an area of 500 km south to north and 200 km east to west between Mongalla in the south and Malakal in the north.
Its size is highly variable, averaging over 30,000 square kilometers. During the wet season it may extend to over 130,000 km², depending on the inflowing waters, with the discharge from Lake Victoria being the main control factor of flood levels and area inundation. A main hydrological factor is that Sudd area, consisting of various meandering channels, lagoons, reed and papyrus fields, loses half of the inflowing water through evapotranspiration in the permanent and seasonal floodplains. A major feature of the area, even if not completed and not functional, is the Jonglei Canal, planned to bypass waters from the Sudd to avoid evaporation losses and increase the amount of water discharged at the outlet of the Sudd.
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Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland (Umbuso weSwatini), and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique. The nation, as well as its people, are named after the 19th century king Mswati II.
Swaziland is a small country, no more than 200 kilometres (120 mi) north to south and 130 kilometres (81 mi) east to west. The western half is mountainous, descending to a lowveld region to the east. The eastern border with Mozambique and South Africa is dominated by the escarpment of the Lebombo Mountains. The climate is temperate in the west, but may reach 40 °C (104 °F) in summer in the lowveld. Rainfall occurs mainly in the summer and may reach 2 metres (6.6 ft) in the west.
The area that Swaziland now covers has been continuously inhabited since prehistory. Today, the population is primarily ethnic Swazis whose language is siSwati, though English is spoken as a second language. The Swazi people descend from the southern Bantu who migrated from Central Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Anglo-Boer War saw the United Kingdom make Swaziland a protectorate under its direct control. Swaziland gained independence in 1968. Swaziland is a member of the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and the Commonwealth of Nations. The head of state is the king, who appoints the prime minister and a small number of representatives for both chambers of parliament. Elections are held every five years to determine the majority of the representatives. A new constitution was adopted in 2005.
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Tanzania
Coordinates: 6°18′25″S 34°51′14″E / 6.307°S 34.854°E / -6.307; 34.854 Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( /ˌtænzəˈniːə/ Swahili: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern border lies on the Indian Ocean.
Tanzania is a state composed of 26 regions (mikoa), including those of the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar. The head of state is President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, elected in 2005. Since 1996, the official capital of Tanzania has been Dodoma, where Parliament and some government offices are located. Between independence and 1996, the main coastal city of Dar es Salaam served as the country's political capital. Today, Dar es Salaam remains the principal commercial city of Tanzania and the de facto seat of most government institutions. It is the major seaport for the country and its landlocked neighbours.
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The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambiai/ˈɡæmbiə/, is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
The country is situated around the Gambia River, the nation's namesake, which flows through the country's centre and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Its area is 11,295 km² with an estimated population of 1.7 million.
On 18 February 1965, Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined the Commonwealth of Nations. Banjul is Gambia's capital, but the largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama.
Gambia shares historical roots with many other West African nations in the slave trade, which was the key factor in the placing and keeping of a colony on the Gambia River, first by the Portuguese and later by the British. Since gaining independence in 1965, Gambia has enjoyed relative political stability, with the exception of a brief period of military rule in 1994.
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Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republici/ˈtoʊɡoʊ/, is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately 57,000 square kilometres (22,000 sq mi) with a population of approximately 6.7 million.
Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with a climate that provides good growing seasons. The official language is French, with many other languages spoken in Togo, particularly those of the Gbe family. The largest religious group in Togo are those with indigenous beliefs, and there are significant Christian and Muslim minorities. Togo is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie and Economic Community of West African States.
From the 11th to the 16th century, various tribes entered the region from all directions. From the 16th century to the 18th century, the coastal region was a major trading centre for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany declared Togoland a protectorate. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. Togo gained its independence from France in 1960.
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Tunisia
Tunisia (USi/tuːˈniːʒə/ two-NEE-zhə or UK /tjuːˈnɪziə/ tew-NIZ-iə; Arabic: تونس Tūnis pronounced [ˈtuːnɪs]), officially the Republic of Tunisia (Arabic: الجمهورية التونسية al-Jumhūriyyah at-Tūnisiyyah), is the northernmost country in Africa. It is an Arab Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area is almost 165,000 square kilometres (64,000 sq mi), with an estimated population of just under 10.7 million. Its name is derived from the capital Tunis located in the northeast.
Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa. The south of the country is composed of the Sahara desert, with much of the remainder consisting of particularly fertile soil and 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of coastline.
Tunisia has relations with both the European Union—with whom it has an association agreement—and the Arab world. Tunisia is also a member of the Arab Maghreb Union, the Arab League, and the African Union. Tunisia has established close relations with France in particular, through economic cooperation, industrial modernization, and privatisation programs.
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Uganda
Coordinates: 1°17′N 32°23′E / 1.28°N 32.39°E / 1.28; 32.39
Uganda ( /juːˈɡændə/ yew-GAN-də or /juːˈɡɑːndə/ yew-GAHN-də), officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, which is also shared by Kenya and Tanzania.
Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala.
The people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, when Bantu-speaking populations migrated to the southern parts of the country. Uganda gained independence from Britain on 9 October 1962.
The official languages are English and Swahili, although multiple other languages are spoken in the country.
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. The country includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea.
The United Kingdom is a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system, with its seat of government in the capital city of London. It is a country in its own right and consists of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There are three devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff, the capitals of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Associated with the UK, but not constitutionally part of it, are three Crown Dependencies. The United Kingdom has fourteen overseas territories. These are remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in 1922, encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface and was the largest empire in history. British influence can still be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former territories.
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United States
The United States of America (commonly abbreviated to the United States, the U.S., the USA, America, and the States) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.
At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) and with over 312 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest by both land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2011 GDP of $15.1 trillion (22% of nominal global GDP and over 19% of global GDP at purchasing-power parity). Per capita income is the world's sixth-highest.
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Unity State
Unity, sometimes known as Western Upper Nile[citation needed], is one of the 10 states of the African nation of South Sudan. Unity state is in the Greater Upper Nile region. It has an area of 35,956 square kilometres (13,883 sq mi). Unity is inhabited predominantly by two ethnic groups, the Nuer (majority) and the Dinka (minority).
The capital of Unity state is Bentiu. Prior to an administrative reorganization in 1994, Unity was part of a much larger province of Upper Nile, and the state is still sometimes called Western Upper Nile.
The counties of Unity are: Mayom, Rubkona, Panrieng, Leer, Guit, Koch, Abiemnom, Mayendit, and Payinjiar.
The larger towns are Bentiu, Mayom, Leer and Adok.
Other towns are Riangnhom, Rub-Koni, Yoynyang, Tam, Mankien, Wang-Kay, Koch, Nyal and Ganyiel.
Agriculture is the state's primary economic activity. The people are nomadic agro-pastoralists who engage in both agriculture and rearing of livestock, especially cattle. Farming is conducted during the rainy season although some cultivation also occurs during summer. Vegetables are not widely cultivated as most farmers are rural rather than urban, and therefore lack access to markets for their produce. Some NGOs are introducing farmers to the practice of cultivation for market.
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Wadelai
Wadelai is a village of northern Uganda on the Albert Nile and was the final chief station of Emin Pasha when Governor of Equatoria.
It lies at 2 50' N., 31 35' E., 200 m. in a direct line N.N.W. of Entebbe on Victoria Nyanza, and 72 mi. by river below Butiaba on Albert Nyanza. The British built a government station there on a hill 160 to 200 ft. above the Nile at a spot where the river narrows to 482 ft. and attains a depth of 30 ft. At this place was a gauge for measuring the discharge of the river.
Wadelai was first visited by a European, Lieut. H. Chippendall in 1875, and was named after a chieftain who, when visited by Gessi Pasha (on the occasion of that officer's circumnavigation of Albert Nyanza), ruled the surrounding district as a vassal of Kabarega, king of Unyoro. The region was annexed to the Egyptian Sudan and Wadelai's village chosen as a government post. This post was on the western bank of the Nile, below the existing station.
Here for some time Emin Pasha had his headquarters, evacuating the place in December 1888. Thereafter, for some years, the district was held by the Mahdists. In 1894 the British flag was hoisted at Wadelai, on both banks of the Nile, by Major E. R. Owen. Some twelve years later the government post was withdrawn. There is a village at the foot of the hill.
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Western Equatoria
Western Equatoria is one of the 10 states of South Sudan. It has an area of 79,319 km². Its capital is Yambio. The state is divided into counties, each headed by a County Commissioner. Western Equatoria seceded from Sudan as part of the Republic of South Sudan on 9 July 2011.
In the 1880s, Western Equatoria was home to the Azande administration of King Gbudwe, which ruled much of the area at the time.
In the middle of twentieth century, after Sudan's independence in 1956, a number of southern Sudanese independence liberation movements, such as the Anyanya and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M), led by John Garang de Mabior, made their impact on the area, as they envisioned a New Sudan.
In 2005 a peace treaty was signed, but there is still some insurgent activity.
The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), under the command of Joseph Kony, moved its base from Uganda to the southern Sudan border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and operates in the Western Equatoria region. Before the 2005 peace deal, the LRA had used Western Equatoria as a base for its operations against the Ugandan government of President Yoweri Museveni. But SPLA troop patrols in the region largely maintain control.
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Western Sahara
Coordinates: 25°N 13°W / 25°N 13°W / 25; -13
Western Sahara (USi/ˌwɛstərn səˈhærə/, UK /ˌwɛstən səˈhɑrə/; Arabic: الصحراء الغربية Aṣ-Ṣaḥrā’ al-Gharbīyah; Spanish: Sahara Occidental), is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to 266,000 square kilometres (103,000 sq mi). It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. The population is estimated at just over 500,000, many of whom live in El Aaiún (also called Laâyoune), the largest city in Western Sahara.
A colony of Spain since the late 19th century, the Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1963. In 1965, the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution on Western Sahara, asking Spain to decolonise the territory. One year later, a new resolution was passed by the General Assembly requesting that a referendum be held by Spain on self-determination. In 1975, Spain relinquished the administrative control of the territory to a joint administration by Morocco, which had formally claimed the territory since 1957, and Mauritania. A war erupted between those countries and the Sahrawi national liberation movement Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) (exiled government in Tindouf, Algeria). Mauritania withdrew in 1979 and Morocco eventually secured effective control of most of the territory, including all the major cities and natural resources.
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Yambio
Yambio (Arabic: يامبيو) is a city in South Sudan.
The city is located in Yambio County, Western Equatoria State, in southwestern South Sudan, close to the International border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its location lies approximately 444 kilometres (276 mi), by road, west of Juba, the largest city in South Sudan and the capital of that country. The coordinates of Yambio are: 4° 33' 54.00"N, 28° 22' 30.00"E (Latitude: 4.5650; Longitude: 28.3750). Yambio's average elevation is 650 metres (2,130 ft) above sea level.
Yambio is the headquarters of Yambio County, in which it lies. It is also the capital city of Western Equatoria State, one of the 10 states that constitute the Republic of South Sudan. Following the attainment of independence by South Sudan in 2011, the main current concerns in Yambio include the following:
Yambio and the surrounding communities are the ancestral home of the Azande ethnic group, who also inhabit neighbouring parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.
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Yemen
The Republic of Yemen (Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhūrīyah al-Yamanīyah), commonly known as Yemeni/ˈjɛmən/ (Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman), is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east. Yemen is considered one of the poorest countries in the Arab world. Its capital and largest city is Sana'a. Yemen's territory includes over 200 islands, the largest of which is Socotra, about 415 km (258 mi) to the south of mainland Yemen, off the coast of Somalia. It is the only state in the Arabian Peninsula to have a purely republican form of government. Approximately 53% of Yemenis are Sunnis, while 45% are Zaydi Shias.
One etymology derives Yemen from yamin, meaning "on the right side", as the south is on the right when facing the sunrise. Another derives Yemen from yumn, meaning "felicity", as the region is fertile. The Romans called it Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia) as opposed to Arabia Deserta (Deserted Arabia), which was their term for northern Arabia.
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Zambia
Zambia ( /ˈzæmbiə/), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west. The capital city is Lusaka, located in the south-central part of the country. The population is concentrated mainly around Lusaka in the south and the Copperbelt Province to the northwest.
Originally inhabited by Khoisan peoples, the region which comprises modern Zambia was colonised during the Bantu expansion of the thirteenth century. After visits by European explorers in the eighteenth century, Zambia became the British colony of Northern Rhodesia towards the end of the nineteenth century. For most of the colonial period, the country was governed by an administration appointed from London with the advice of the British South Africa Company.
On 24 October 1964, the country declared independence from the United Kingdom and then-prime minister Kenneth Kaunda became the inaugural president. Kaunda's socialist United National Independence Party (UNIP) maintained power from the 1964 until 1991. From 1972 to 1991 Zambia was a single-party state with the UNIP as the sole-legal political party, with the goal of uniting the nation under the banner of 'One Zambia, One Nation'. Kaunda was succeeded by Frederick Chiluba of the social-democratic Movement for Multi-Party Democracy in 1991, during which the country saw a rise in social-economic growth and increased decentralisation of government.
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Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (/zɪmˈbɑːbweɪ/ zim-BAHB-way; officially the Republic of Zimbabwe) is a landlocked country of southern Africa. It shares a 125-mile (200-kilometre) border on the south with the Republic of South Africa and is bounded on the southwest and west by Botswana, on the north by Zambia, and on the northeast and east by Mozambique. The capital is Harare (formerly called Salisbury). Zimbabwe achieved majority rule and internationally recognised independence in April 1980 following a long period of colonial rule and a 15-year period of white-dominated minority rule, instituted after the minority regime’s so-called Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in 1965.
Zimbabwe has three official languages: English, Shona and Ndebele. Zimbabwe began as the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia, created from land held by the British South Africa Company. President Robert Mugabe is the head of State and Commander in Chief of the armed forces. Morgan Tsvangirai is the Prime Minister. Mugabe has been in power since the country's internationally recognised independence in 1980.
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Ajou Deng
Ajou Ajou Deng (born March 22, 1978) is a British-South Sudanese professional basketball player. He is the son of Aldo Deng, a former Sudanese politician and is the brother of Luol Deng, an NBA player who is also his teammate on Great Britain's national team.
The 6’11” center played his university basketball in Connecticut with the Fairfield Stags from 2001 through 2003 after two years playing for the UConn Huskies from 1999 through 2001. His career was known for not measuring up to the tremendous amount of hype that preceded his arrival at UCONN. College Basketball analysts like Billy Packer and Dick Vitale once predicted that he could be the best player ever at UCONN. He never came close to reaching these lofty goals.
After graduating from Fairfield, Deng returned to Great Britain, where his family had been granted asylum, and joined pro outfit Brighton Bears for the 2004-05 season. In 37 games Deng scored 428 points, an average of 11.57 per game, and averaged nearly 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He started the following season with the Scottish Rocks before joining the Guildford Heat.
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Ater Majok
Ater Majok (pronounced Ah-TARE Mah-jook) (born July 4, 1987) is an Australian professional basketball player who was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011 NBA Draft with the 58th overall pick in the 2nd round.
Ater Majok was born in South Sudan in 1987. He migrated to Sydney Australia through a refugee camp in Egypt. Upon arrival in Sydney, he bonded with a group of young men from South Sudan, called the South Stars basketball team.
He attended high school at St Aloysius' College in Sydney, New South Wales, Parramatta Marist High School in Sydney and the American International School in Carlingford, New South Wales where he graduated in 2008.
After graduating, he committed to the University of Connecticut. He sat out during the 2008–09 basketball season because he was not cleared to play by the NCAA. Majok joined the UConn roster in the second semester of the 2008-09 season and became eligible for action at the conclusion of the Fall semester in 2009 and had freshman eligibility.
When the season was over he declared for the 2009 NBA Draft but did not sign with an agent. About a week before the draft he decided to withdraw his name and to return to UConn.
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Deng Gai
Deng Gai (born March 22, 1982) is a South Sudanese professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. He plays as a power forward. Gai was the 2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leader.
After attending Milford Academy in Connecticut, Gai played college basketball at Fairfield University (also in the state), where he was a three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and took the Stags to the MAAC semifinals in 2005. Gai graduated as number eight on the NCAA's all-time blocked shots list.
As a senior, Gai was named first team All-MAAC, leading the nation in blocks (5.5 bpg) while blocking 10 or more shots in three contests.
Gai declared for the NBA Draft in 2004, but ultimately withdrew his name. He was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2005.
After playing in only two games for the team, Gai was waived in December 2005. He then briefly played for the USBL's Dodge City Legend and the ABA's Wilmington Sea Dawgs. Subsequently, Gai, who had been drafted in 2005 by the CBA's Albany Patroons (2nd round, 10th overall), played for the team in the USBL, leading it in blocks. At the end of the season, he was named to the league's All-Defensive Team.
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Dinka people
The Dinka is an ethnic group inhabiting the Bahr el Ghazal region of the Nile basin, Jonglei and parts of southern Kordufan and Upper Nile regions. They are mainly agripastoral people, relying on cattle herding at riverside camps in the dry season and growing millet (awuou) and other varieties of grains (rap) in fixed settlements during the rainy season. They number around 4.5 million people according to the 2008 Sudan census, constituting about 18% of the population of the entire country, and the largest ethnic tribe in South Sudan. Dinka, or as they refer to themselves, Muonyjang (singular) and jieng (plural), are one of the branches of the River Lake Nilotes (mainly sedentary agripastoral peoples of East Africa who speak Nilotic languages, including the Nuer and Luo). Dinka are sometimes noted for their height. With the Tutsi of Rwanda, they are believed to be the tallest people in Africa. Roberts and Bainbridge reported the average height of 182.6 cm (5 ft 11.9 in) in a sample of 52 Dinka Ageir and 181.3 cm (5 ft 11.4 in) in 227 Dinka Ruweng measured in 1953–1954. However, it seems the stature of today's Dinka males is lower, possibly as a consequence of undernutrition and conflicts. An anthropometric survey of Dinka men, war refugees in Ethiopia, published in 1995 found a mean height of 176.4 cm (5 ft 9.4 in).
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Dominic Dim Deng
Dominic Dim Deng (1 March 1950 – 2 May 2008) was a senior member of Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, a prominent military General and the first Defence Minister in the Government of Southern Sudan who lost his life alongside his wife Madam Josephine Apieu Jenaro Aken, senior politician Dr. Justin Yac Arop and 18 other Sudan People's Liberation Army and Government of Southern Sudan officials on a leased CEM Air Beechcraft 1900 that crashed 375 km west of Juba, Sudan on May 2, 2008.
Dominic Dim, a member of the Dinka group from the Bahr el Ghazal region was born in a remote village called Adol in Twic County, Warrap State, Southern Sudan. In 1962, he attended Nyarkach Primary School. He completed his primary education at Nyarkach and joined Kuajok Intermediate School in 1964.
In 1966, at the age of 16, Dim joined the rebels of Southern Sudan in the First Sudanese Civil War. A peace agreement was signed in 1972, known as the Addis Ababa Agreement, as part of the agreement Dim was absorbed in the Sudanese National Army (SNA) with a rank of 1st Lt.
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Emin Pasha
Mehmed Emin Pasha (March 28, 1840 – October 23, 1892) — he was born Isaak Eduard Schnitzer and baptized (c. 1847) Eduard Carl Oscar Theodor Schnitzer — was a physician, naturalist, and governor of the Egyptian province of Equatoria on the upper Nile. "Pasha" was a title conferred on him in 1886 and thereafter he was referred to as "Emin Pasha".
He was born in Oppeln, Silesia into a middle-class Germano-Jewish family, which moved to Neisse when he was two years of age. After the death of his father in 1845 his mother married a Gentile; she and her offspring were baptized Lutherans. He studied at the universities at Breslau, Königsberg, and Berlin, qualifying as a doctor in 1864. However, he was disqualified from practice, and left Germany for Constantinople, with the intention of entering Ottoman service.
Travelling via Vienna and Trieste, he stopped at Antivari in Montenegro, found himself welcomed by the local community and was soon in medical practice. He put his linguistic talent to good use as well, adding Turkish, Albanian, and Greek to his repertoire of European languages. He became the quarantine officer of the port, leaving only in 1870 to join the staff of Ismail Hakki Pasha, governor of northern Albania, in the service he travelled throughout the Ottoman Empire, although the details are little-known.
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Essam Sharaf
Essam Abdel-Aziz Sharaf (Arabic: عصام عبد العزيز شرف, IPA: [ʕeˈsˤɑːm ʕæbdelʕæˈziːz ʃɑɾˤɑf]; born 1952) is an Egyptian academic who was the Prime Minister of Egypt from 3 March 2011 to 7 December 2011. He served as Minister of Transportation from 2004 to 2005.
Sharaf was born in the Egyptian city of Giza in 1952. After receiving his B.Sc. in civil engineering from Cairo University in 1975, he went to Purdue University where he continued his studies, receiving his M.Sc. Engg in 1980 and his Ph.D. in 1984.
Sharaf took a post as a visiting assistant professor at Purdue in 1984 before becoming assistant professor of Highway and Traffic Engineering at the University of Cairo the following year. In 1990, he was an assistant professor in Civil Engineering at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. He returned to the University of Cairo in 1991, becoming a professor of Highway Engineering in 1996 while working as senior advisor for the Transportation & Aviation department in Zuhair Fayez Partnership (ZFP) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Sharaf was the senior adviser to the Egyptian Minister of Transport in 1999 and the Senior Technical Adviser to the municipality of Al Ain in the UAE in 2003.
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Gbudwe
Gbudwe was an Azande ruler in Sudan in 1870 - 1905.
His real name was Mbio - which means a kind of small antelope - but this was obviously not good enough for him, because he changed it to the one by which he is better known, and which has the meaning of "to tear out a man's intestines".
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard quotes a description of Gbudwe by an Azande who had known him:
"Gbudwe was a short man, though not excessively short... he was stout also... His breasts protruded like those of a woman... His eyes were little protruding eyes, and they sparkled like stars. When he looked at a man in anger they were terrible; then they went grey like ashes... When he approached people from afar you could not mistake Gbudwe. He was a marvellous prince."
He was unusual among Azande kings in preferring to lead from the front, and as a young man he often took part in the fighting in person. He possessed a magic whistle, which was said to guarantee victory if blown before a battle. He encouraged his men to eat the Arabs they killed - although cannibalism was probably not normal Azande practise - and is recorded as having derived great amusement from a present consisting of a bag filled with the severed genitals of his enemies.
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George Steinmetz
George Steinmetz (born 1957, Beverly Hills) is an American Photographer. He graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Geophysics. He began his career in photography after hitchhiking through Africa for 28 months. His current work focuses on photographing the world's deserts while piloting a motorized paraglider. This experimental aircraft enables him to capture images of the world inaccessible by traditional aircraft and most other modes of transportation.
His work has been featured in The New Yorker,Smithsonian, and he is a regular contributor to National Geographic magazine.
He is the author of two books, African Air and Empty Quarter, which feature portfolios of his work in these regions of the world.
African Air is a compilation of pictures from ten years of flying over Africa, mostly with a motorized paraglider. This foot-launched ultra light is the slowest and lightest powered aircraft in the world and allows George to capture intimate aerial views of places that have never been seen from above. African Air covers the continent’s most breathtaking landscapes, from migrating herds of zebras and elephants to infinite miles of desert, including densely packed urban centers and small, remote villages.
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John Garang
John Garang de Mabior (June 23, 1945 – July 30, 2005) was a Sudanese politician and leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War, and following a peace agreement he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan from January 2005 until he died in a July 2005 helicopter crash.
A member of the Dinka ethnic group, Garang was born into a poor family in Buk village in the upper Nile region of Sudan. An orphan by the age of ten, he had his fees for school paid by a relative, going to schools in Wau and then Rumbek. In 1962 he joined the first Sudanese civil war, but because he was so young, the leaders encouraged him and others his age to seek an education. Because of the ongoing fighting, Garang was forced to attend his secondary education in Tanzania. After winning a scholarship, he went on to earn a B.A.[clarification needed] in economics in 1969 from Grinnell College in Iowa, USA. He was known there for his bookishness. He was offered another scholarship to pursue graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, but chose to return to Tanzania and study East African agricultural economics as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). At UDSM, he was a member of the University Students' African Revolutionary Front. However, Garang soon decided to return to Sudan and join the rebels.[citation needed] There is much erroneous reporting that Garang met and befriended Yoweri Museveni, future president of Uganda, at this time; while both Garang and Museveni were students at UDSM in the 1960s, they did not attend at the same time.
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Joseph Kony
Joseph Rao Kony (pronounced IPA: [koɲ]; born sometime between July and September of 1961) is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a Ugandan guerrilla group. While initially enjoying strong public support, the LRA allegedly turned on its own supporters, supposedly to "purify" the Acholi people and turn Uganda into a theocracy. Kony proclaims himself the spokesperson of God and a spirit medium, has nurtured a cult of personality, and claims he is visited by a multinational host of 13 spirits, including a Chinese phantom. Ideologically, the group is a syncretic mix of mysticism, Acholi nationalism, Islam, and Christian fundamentalism, and claims to be establishing a theocratic state based on the Ten Commandments and local Acholi tradition.
Kony has been accused by government entities of ordering the abduction of children to become child-sex slaves and child soldiers. An estimated 66,000 children became soldiers and two million people have been internally displaced since 1986. Kony was indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2005 but has evaded capture. The LRA operates in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and South Sudan.
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Kueth Duany
Kueth Duany (born 22 April 1980 in Sudan) is a Sudanese former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange who was the captain and lone senior on Syracuse's 2003 NCAA National Championship team.
Duany and his family escaped religious persecution in his native country of Sudan. Duany's father had been imprisoned for five months for the crime of being a Christian in government office.
Duany is one of five siblings, all of whom have played Division I basketball. Duany made it to the 2000 Final Four with Wisconsin. Nyagon played for the women's team at Bradley, Nok played for the Georgetown women's team, and Bil formerly of the Eastern Illinois Panthers,
At Bloomington High School North, he helped his team to a combined 66-10 record in his three varsity seasons; his senior year, he averaged 19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Duany was a Nike All-American, as well as being named to the all-Conference, all-state, all-area and all-region teams.
Duany sat out the 1998-99 season while recovering from knee surgery and was granted a medical redshirt.
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Lost Boys of Sudan
The Lost Boys of Sudan is the name given to the groups of over 20,000 boys of the Nuer and Dinka ethnic groups who were displaced and/or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005); about 2.5 million were killed and millions were displaced. The name "Lost Boys of Sudan" was colloquially used by aid workers in the refugee camps where the boys resided in Africa.
Most of the boys were orphans separated from their families when government troops and government-sponsored militias systematically attacked villages in southern Sudan, killing many of the inhabitants. Many avoided capture or death because they were away from their villages tending cattle at the cattle camps (grazing land located near bodies of water where cattle were taken and tended largely by the village children during the dry season) and were able to flee and hide in the dense African bush. Presumably orphaned, they traveled by foot for years in search of safe refuge, on a journey that carried them over a thousand miles across three countries to refugee camps where they resided in Ethiopia and Kenya and in various villages where they sought refuge in South Sudan. Over half died along their epic journey, due to starvation, dehydration, sickness and disease and attack by wild animals and enemy soldiers. Experts say they are the most badly war-traumatized children ever examined. The Foundation For The Lost Boys pay for them to go to school in the states.
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Luo peoples
The Luo (also spelled Lwo) are an ethno-linguistic group that inhabit an area ranging from South Sudan and Ethiopia, through northern Uganda and eastern Congo (DRC), into western Kenya, and the northern tip of Tanzania. The Luo speak an Eastern Sudanic (Nilotic) language, a branch of the Nilo-Saharan language family. According to various ethnic classification schemes, they are referred to as River-Lake Nilotes or Western Nilotes, which also includes the Dinka–Nuer language group. People who speak Luo languages include the Shilluk, Anuak, Acholi, Jurchol, Lango, Palwo, Alur, Padhola, Joluo (Kenyan and Tanzanian Luo), Bor, and Kumam.
According to ethnologists, linguists and Luo oral history, the Luo are part of the Nilotic group of tribes who separated from the East Sudanic family of tribes about 3000 BCE.[citation needed]Bethwell Ogot places the area of origin of the Luo in South Sudan.
More than eight centuries ago, the Luo peoples occupied the area that now lies in eastern Bahr el Ghazal in present day South Sudan. The reason for their dispersion from this area is not known for certain, though it is widely believed to have been the Arab Conquest. Internal contradictions or population explosion could have driven them from this region. The Luo moved to nearly all the countries neighbouring Sudan, resulting in many separate groups with variation in language and tradition as each group moved further away from their kin.
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Luol Deng
Luol Deng (born April 16, 1985) is a British professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls and the Great Britain national basketball team. He plays the small forward position. He was selected to his first All Star game during the 2011–12 NBA season, joining teammate Derrick Rose. Born in what is now South Sudan, Deng fled the country with his family as a child, moving to Egypt and then the United Kingdom, becoming a British citizen in 2006.
Deng was born in Wau, Sudan (current South Sudan) and is a member of the Dinka ethnic group. When he was young, his father Aldo, a member of the Sudanese parliament, moved the family to Egypt to escape the Second Sudanese Civil War. In Egypt, they met former NBA center Manute Bol, another Dinka, who taught Deng's older brother, Ajou Deng, how to play basketball while also serving as a mentor for Luol himself. When they were granted political asylum, his family emigrated to Brixton, South London. Deng developed an interest in soccer, admiring Faustino Asprilla of Newcastle United, but also continued to play basketball, and was invited to join England's 15-and-under team in that sport. During this time, he began his career at Brixton Basketball Club. He represented Croydon at the London Youth Games, and was inducted in to their Hall of Fame in 2009. At the age of 13, he played for England's squad in the European Junior Men's Qualifying Tournament, averaging 40 points and 14 rebounds. He was named the MVP of the tournament. Next, he led England to the finals of the European Junior National Tournament, where he averaged 34 points and earned another MVP award.
wn.com/Luol_Deng -
Manute Bol
Manute Bol ( /məˈnuːt ˈboʊl/; October 16, 1962 – June 19, 2010) was a Sudanese-born basketball player and activist. At 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) tall, Bol was one of the tallest players ever to appear in the National Basketball Association, along with Gheorghe Mureşan. Unlike Mureşan, however, Bol was naturally tall and did not have a Pituitary disease.[citation needed] Bol was officially measured at 7 feet, 6 3/4 inches tall by the Guinness Book of World Records. Bol is believed to have been born on October 16, 1962 in either Turalei or Gogrial, Sudan (now South Sudan). He was the son of a Dinka tribal chief, who gave him the name "Manute", which means "special blessing."
Bol played basketball for many teams over his career. He played for two colleges and four NBA teams. He was known as a specialist player; his shot blocking ability was considered among the best in the history of the sport, but other aspects of his game were considered fairly weak. In his career, he had more blocked shots than points scored.
wn.com/Manute_Bol -
Nuba Mountains
The Nuba Mountains (also referred to as the Nuba Hills) is an area located in South Kordofan, Sudan. The area is home to a group of indigenous ethnic groups known collectively as the Nuba peoples. In the 18th century, Nuba Mountains became home to the kingdom of Taqali that controlled the hills of the mountains until their defeat by Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad. After the Mahdi's defeat by the British, Taqali was restored as a client state. Infiltration of the Messiria tribe of Baggara Arabs has been influential in modern conflicts.
The mountains cover an area roughly 40 miles (64 km) wide by 90 miles (140 km) long, and are 1,500 to 3,000 feet (910 m) higher in elevation than the surrounding plain. The mountains stretch for some 48,000 square kilometres (19,000 square miles). The climate is semi-arid with under 800 mm of rain per year on average, but lush and green compared with most nearby areas. There are almost no roads in the Nuba Mountains; most villages there are connected by ancient paths that cannot be reached by motor vehicles. The rainy season extends from mid-May to mid-October, and annual rainfall ranges from 400 to 800 millimetres (16.4 to 32.8 in), allowing grazing and seasonal rain-fed agriculture.
wn.com/Nuba_Mountains -
Nuer people
The Nuer (also known as the Nei Ti Naath (roughly meaning original people) are a confederation of tribes located in South Sudan and western Ethiopia. Collectively, the Nuer form one of the largest ethnic groups in East Africa. They are a pastoral people who rely on cattle products for almost every aspect of their daily lives. The Nuer border such tribes as the Dinka, Anyuak, Shilluk and other minor tribes in both Ethiopia and Sudan.
The Nuer are among the very few African tribes that successfully fended off colonial powers in the early 20th century.[citation needed] The Nuer warriors are among the most skilled fighters in Africa; they wielded weapons made of finely crafted iron.
The nature of relations among these various southern tribes were greatly affected in the 19th century by the intrusion of Ottomans, Arabs, and eventually the British. Some ethnic groups made their accommodation with the imperial attackers and others did not, in effect pitting one southern ethnic group against another in the context of foreign rule. For example, some sections of the Dinka were more accommodating to British rule than were the Nuer. The Dinka treated the resisting Nuer as hostile, and hostility developed between the two groups as a result of their differing relationships to the British.[citation needed]
wn.com/Nuer_people -
Pojulu people
The Pojulu ethnic groups are of the savanna lands in the White Nile Valley, in the Equatoria region of South Sudan. They are Nilotic peoples and part of the Karo people — which also includes Bari, Mundari, Kakwa, Kuku, and Nyangwara.
The Pojulu differentiate into smaller clans of Nyori, Morsak, Goduck, Lobora, Mulusuk, Pirisa, Malari, Mankaro and a few other smaller ones. The population of the Pojulu is estimated to be 950,000 persons.
The majority of the Pojulu population are located in Lainya county of Central Equatoria state, including Mukaya Payam. The Pojulu are also found in Juba and Yei counties of the state. Pojulu people also occupy the area from Lainya to Kagwada, Kopera, Jamara and Mukaya.
The name Pojulu is derived from several sources. The Pojulu can be differentiated in the way all Bari speakers pronounce words, the way all other Bari speakers say their greetings, and the way each group socialize — such as along the roads from Juba up to Lainya and from Lainya to Bereka and Wonduruba.
wn.com/Pojulu_people -
Riek Machar
Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon (born 1953), is the first vice-president of the independent Republic of South Sudan.
Riek Machar obtained a PhD in mechanical engineering in 1984 and then joined the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005). Riek fell out with the SPLM/A leader John Garang in 1991 and formed a splinter group, the SPLM/A-Nasir. In 1997 Riek made a treaty with the Government of Sudan and become head of the government-backed South Sudan Defense Force (SSDF). In 2000 he left the SSDF and formed a new militia, the Sudan People's Democratic Forces (SPDF), and in 2002 rejoined the SPLA as a senior commander. After the death of John Garang in July 2005, Riek Machar became vice-president of the autonomous Southern Sudan. He became vice-president of South Sudan on 9 July 2011 when the country became independent.
Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon was born in Leer, Unity State in 1953, the 26th son of the chief of both Ayod and Leer. He was brought up as a member of the Presbyterian church. Riek belongs to the Dok section of the Nuer people. He trained as an Engineer at Khartoum University, and obtained a PhD in Philosophy and strategic planning from the University of Bradford in 1984.
wn.com/Riek_Machar -
Salva Kiir Mayardit
Salva Kiir Mayardit (born September 13, 1951) is the first President of the Republic of South Sudan.
In the late 1960s, Kiir joined the Anyanya in the First Sudanese Civil War. By the time of the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement, he was a low-ranking officer. In 1983, when John Garang joined an army mutiny he had been sent to put down, Kiir and other Southern leaders joined the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the second civil war. Garang had little military field experience and relied upon the more experienced Anyanya veterans, including Kiir, to actually carry out the ground war. Kiir eventually rose to head the SPLA, the SPLM's military wing. An attempt to remove Kiir from his post as SPLA chief of staff in 2004 nearly caused the organization to split.
Following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement formally ending the war in January 2005, which he had helped start, he was appointed Vice President of Southern Sudan. Perhaps significantly, former Southern Sudan president John Garang like Kiir is of the Dinka people, though of a different clan. After the death of Garang in a helicopter crash on 30 July 2005, Kiir was chosen to succeed to the post of First Vice President of Sudan and President of Southern Sudan. Kiir is popular among the military wing of the SPLM for his battlefield victories and among the populace for his unambiguous pro-secession stance.
wn.com/Salva_Kiir_Mayardit -
Samuel Baker
Sir Samuel White Baker, KCB, FRS, FRGS (8 June 1821 – 30 December 1893) was a British explorer, officer, naturalist, big game hunter, engineer, writer and abolitionist. He also held the titles of Pasha and Major-General in the Ottoman Empire and Egypt. He served as the Governor-General of the Equatorial Nile Basin (today's Southern Sudan and Northern Uganda) between Apr. 1869 - Aug. 1873, which he established as the Province of Equatoria. He is mostly remembered as the discoverer of Lake Albert, as an explorer of the Nile and interior of central Africa, and for his exploits as a big game hunter in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Baker wrote a considerable number of books and published articles. He was a friend of King Edward VII, who as Prince of Wales, visited Baker with Queen Alexandra in Egypt. Other friendships were with explorers Henry Morton Stanley, Roderick Murchison, John H. Speke and James A. Grant, with the ruler of Egypt Pasha Ismail The Magnificent, Major-General Charles George Gordon and Maharaja Duleep Singh.
wn.com/Samuel_Baker -
Shilluk people
The Shilluk (Shilluk: Chollo) are a major Nilotic people of Southern Sudan, living on both banks of the river Nile, in the vicinity of the city of Malakal. Their language as Dhɔg Cɔllɔ or Dhɔ Cɔl, dhɔg being the Shilluk word for language and mouth. Before the second Sudanese civil war the Shilluk also lived in a number of settlements on the northern bank of the Sobat River, close to where the Sobat joins the Nile, with Doleib Hill as an important mission station.
The Shilluk are the third largest minority ethnic group of Southern Sudan, after the Dinka and their neighbors the Nuer.
Their language, the Shilluk language (or dhok-Chollo), belongs to the Luo branch of the Western Nilotic subfamily of Nilo-Saharan.
Historically the Shilluk were led by a king Reth who is considered to be from the divine lineage of the culture hero Nyikang, and whose health is believed to affect that of the nation. Formerly, their society was fairly hierarchical, with castes of royals, nobles, commoners, and slaves. Like most Nilotic groups, cattle-raising formed a large part of their economy; however, agriculture and fishing were more significant than usual, and most were sedentary.
wn.com/Shilluk_people -
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative.
Wildlife can be found in all ecosystems. Deserts, forests, rain forests, plains, grasslands, and other areas including the most developed urban sites, all have distinct forms of wildlife. While the term in popular culture usually refers to animals that are untouched by human factors, most scientists agree that wildlife around the world is impacted by human activities.
Humans have historically tended to separate civilization from wildlife in a number of ways including the legal, social, and moral sense. This has been a reason for debate throughout recorded history. Religions have often declared certain animals to be sacred, and in modern times concern for the natural environment has provoked activists to protest the exploitation of wildlife for human benefit or entertainment. Literature has also made use of the traditional human separation from wildlife.
wn.com/Wildlife -
Éliane Duthoit
Éliane Duthoit (born 1946, Brittany), a French citizen, is a senior United Nations official at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Since the early 1990s, Duthoit was appointed successively Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Ingushetia (covering Chechnya), and then head of the OCHA offices in Uganda, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Southern Sudan, and latterly Chad. Between these appointments, she carried out short assignments with other functions in Burundi and elsewhere.
In Uganda, Éliane Duthoit played an important role in attracting international attention to what the United Nations believed was a forgotten humanitarian crisis.
In Chechnya, she played an important role in facilitating negotiations between the Russian military and Chechen rebels to ensure humanitarian relief for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In 2006, she was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan as head of the OCHA office in Juba, Southern Sudan, under the leadership of Under-Secretary-General Jan Egeland. This was when humanitarian needs were gradually leading the way to development, in which OCHA along with other United Nations agencies reportedly played an important role. In Southern Sudan, she also played a significant role, in facilitating negotiations at the 2006-2007 Juba talks between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), hosted and mediated by the Government of Southern Sudan with United Nations support in the person of Joaquim Chissano as Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for LRA-affected areas.
wn.com/Éliane_Duthoit
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Inside Story - Have Sudan and South Sudan struck peace?
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 24:33
- Updated: 01 Jan 2013
After days of negotiations in Ethiopia leaders of Sudan and South Sudan reached a partial deal, which includes resuming much-needed oil exports and creating a demilitarised zone. But the thorniest issues -- disputed oil-rich areas and a secure border -- remain unresolved. Can this deal work? Guests: Hafiz Mohammed, Douglas Johnson, Jonathan Temin.
http://wn.com/Inside_Story_Have_Sudan_and_South_Sudan_struck_peace?
After days of negotiations in Ethiopia leaders of Sudan and South Sudan reached a partial deal, which includes resuming much-needed oil exports and creating a demilitarised zone. But the thorniest issues -- disputed oil-rich areas and a secure border -- remain unresolved. Can this deal work? Guests: Hafiz Mohammed, Douglas Johnson, Jonathan Temin.
Sudan,South Sudan agree to implement oil deal
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:44
- Updated: 07 Jan 2013
The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to implement a set of measures designed to ease tensions between the countries. African Union envoy Thabo Mbeki says the two have promised to adopt the deal first reached last September - unconditionally. AU mediators will now lay out a timetable for implementation.
http://wn.com/Sudan,South_Sudan_agree_to_implement_oil_deal
The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to implement a set of measures designed to ease tensions between the countries. African Union envoy Thabo Mbeki says the two have promised to adopt the deal first reached last September - unconditionally. AU mediators will now lay out a timetable for implementation.
- published: 07 Jan 2013
- views: 84
- author: sabcdigitalnews
Rival Sudanese leaders agree to buffer zone, again
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:49
- Updated: 06 Jan 2013
www.euronews.com The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have again committed themselves to setting up a buffer zone along their disputed border. President al-Bashir of Sudan and Salva Kiir of South Sudan had originally agreed last September to withdraw their armies to allow oil exports to start up again. The move announced by the African Union came during a two-day summit in Ethiopia after months of unproductive talks. Each side accuses the other of supporting rebels on different sides of the border, accusations denied by both. Both economies badly need the oil to flow again from the fields in South Sudan, through Sudan, and onto world markets. The legacy of one of Africa's longest civil wars is deep distrust. Both sides stand accused of using the confrontation to shore up domestic support and divert attention from economic problems and corruption. Find us on: Youtube bit.ly Facebook www.facebook.com Twitter twitter.com
http://wn.com/Rival_Sudanese_leaders_agree_to_buffer_zone,_again
www.euronews.com The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have again committed themselves to setting up a buffer zone along their disputed border. President al-Bashir of Sudan and Salva Kiir of South Sudan had originally agreed last September to withdraw their armies to allow oil exports to start up again. The move announced by the African Union came during a two-day summit in Ethiopia after months of unproductive talks. Each side accuses the other of supporting rebels on different sides of the border, accusations denied by both. Both economies badly need the oil to flow again from the fields in South Sudan, through Sudan, and onto world markets. The legacy of one of Africa's longest civil wars is deep distrust. Both sides stand accused of using the confrontation to shore up domestic support and divert attention from economic problems and corruption. Find us on: Youtube bit.ly Facebook www.facebook.com Twitter twitter.com
- published: 06 Jan 2013
- views: 368
- author: Euronews
No justice for South Sudan's death row prisoners
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:36
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
The central prison in South Sudan's capital, Juba, has over 100 people on death row, including four women. But many of the people convicted to be hanged have never seen a lawyer. Human Rights groups say innocent people could well be killed, unless urgent reforms are carried out. Duration: 02:35
http://wn.com/No_justice_for_South_Sudan's_death_row_prisoners
The central prison in South Sudan's capital, Juba, has over 100 people on death row, including four women. But many of the people convicted to be hanged have never seen a lawyer. Human Rights groups say innocent people could well be killed, unless urgent reforms are carried out. Duration: 02:35
- published: 01 Nov 2012
- views: 3247
- author: AFP
Return to South Sudan: Assistance in Transit
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 31:26
- Updated: 23 Oct 2012
During the civil war in Sudan, over 4 million people fled the south. Since peace was restored, people have returned to South Sudan but hundreds of thousands remain stranded in Sudan with no money or limited transport options which prevent them from going home. In 2012, IOM organized 79 flights over 24 days to return 11813 people to South Sudan. A transit site was set-up on the outskirts of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, where returnees remained until IOM organized road convoys to their final destination. This short film documents the work of organizations involved with providing assistance to the returnees at the transit site.
http://wn.com/Return_to_South_Sudan_Assistance_in_Transit
During the civil war in Sudan, over 4 million people fled the south. Since peace was restored, people have returned to South Sudan but hundreds of thousands remain stranded in Sudan with no money or limited transport options which prevent them from going home. In 2012, IOM organized 79 flights over 24 days to return 11813 people to South Sudan. A transit site was set-up on the outskirts of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, where returnees remained until IOM organized road convoys to their final destination. This short film documents the work of organizations involved with providing assistance to the returnees at the transit site.
- published: 12 Oct 2012
- views: 1136
- author: iommigration
New South Sudan Music 2013 Saava Karim Ugrecords1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:31
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
New Southern Sudan juba Music 2013 Sava Karim Ugrecords1 Hot sudanese music
http://wn.com/New_South_Sudan_Music_2013_Saava_Karim_Ugrecords1
New Southern Sudan juba Music 2013 Sava Karim Ugrecords1 Hot sudanese music
- published: 16 Nov 2012
- views: 13511
- author: Ugrecords1
South Sudan struggles to eradicate landmines
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:55
- Updated: 08 Dec 2012
Land mines kill an average of 12 civilians every day. This is a considerable improvement from 10 years ago, when mines claimed around 32 lives every day. But despite the improvement, the weapons still pose a serious risk to many people around the world with South Sudan having among the highest number of land mines in the world. Al Jazeera's Anna Cavell reports from South Sudan..
http://wn.com/South_Sudan_struggles_to_eradicate_landmines
Land mines kill an average of 12 civilians every day. This is a considerable improvement from 10 years ago, when mines claimed around 32 lives every day. But despite the improvement, the weapons still pose a serious risk to many people around the world with South Sudan having among the highest number of land mines in the world. Al Jazeera's Anna Cavell reports from South Sudan..
- published: 08 Dec 2012
- views: 1557
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
Protesters shot at by South Sudanese army
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:33
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
Al Jazeera has received new pictures of what appears to be South Sudanese soldiers firing on a crowd of unarmed demonstrators in the northwest of the country. At least nine people were reportedly killed in the town of Wau, where crowds had gathered to protest against the relocation of a local council building. The deadly incident occurred last weekend, but an anonymous source came to us with this amateur video. Al Jazeera's Anna Cavell reports from Juba. Al Jazeera has asked the government of South Sudan to comment on the incident. We are still waiting for an official response.
http://wn.com/Protesters_shot_at_by_South_Sudanese_army
Al Jazeera has received new pictures of what appears to be South Sudanese soldiers firing on a crowd of unarmed demonstrators in the northwest of the country. At least nine people were reportedly killed in the town of Wau, where crowds had gathered to protest against the relocation of a local council building. The deadly incident occurred last weekend, but an anonymous source came to us with this amateur video. Al Jazeera's Anna Cavell reports from Juba. Al Jazeera has asked the government of South Sudan to comment on the incident. We are still waiting for an official response.
- published: 14 Dec 2012
- views: 10623
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
Sudan: Fight for the heart of the South
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 47:34
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Foremost in the long list of challenges faced by the government of South Sudan (GOSS) is the task of creating an inclusive and representative administration among different tribes with a history of bitter enmity.
http://wn.com/Sudan_Fight_for_the_heart_of_the_South
Foremost in the long list of challenges faced by the government of South Sudan (GOSS) is the task of creating an inclusive and representative administration among different tribes with a history of bitter enmity.
- published: 08 Jul 2011
- views: 74408
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
Juba City, South Sudan - June 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 25:01
- Updated: 07 Jan 2013
Random video footage/scenes of Juba city shot in June 2012 (Produced by Sam Yob Lukudu)
http://wn.com/Juba_City,_South_Sudan_June_2012
Random video footage/scenes of Juba city shot in June 2012 (Produced by Sam Yob Lukudu)
- published: 01 Sep 2012
- views: 7353
- author: Sam Yob Lukudu
South Sudan: Barges carry returnees home
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:58
- Updated: 22 Dec 2012
During the civil war in Sudan, over 4 million people fled the south. Since peace was restored, people have returned to South Sudan but hundreds of thousands remain stranded in Sudan with little money or limited transport options which prevent them from going home. In 2012, IOM has organized over 375 river, road and air movements to assist vulnerable and stranded South Sudanese to return to their homes. On November 12, a barge convoy transporting 880 returnees docked at Juba Port; for 547 returnees this was the final stage in their journey.
http://wn.com/South_Sudan_Barges_carry_returnees_home
During the civil war in Sudan, over 4 million people fled the south. Since peace was restored, people have returned to South Sudan but hundreds of thousands remain stranded in Sudan with little money or limited transport options which prevent them from going home. In 2012, IOM has organized over 375 river, road and air movements to assist vulnerable and stranded South Sudanese to return to their homes. On November 12, a barge convoy transporting 880 returnees docked at Juba Port; for 547 returnees this was the final stage in their journey.
- published: 16 Nov 2012
- views: 1000
- author: iommigration
music song from south sudan
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:58
- Updated: 04 Jan 2013
http://wn.com/music_song_from_south_sudan
Graham Hughes Arrives in South Sudan 26-11-12
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:00
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
http://wn.com/Graham_Hughes_Arrives_in_South_Sudan_26-11-12
South Sudan Air Drop In Action
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:38
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
Climb aboard an Ilyushin 76 airlifter for an emergency air drop in South Sudan's Maban County, where heavy rains stranded thousands of refugees from across the border in Sudan.
http://wn.com/South_Sudan_Air_Drop_In_Action
Climb aboard an Ilyushin 76 airlifter for an emergency air drop in South Sudan's Maban County, where heavy rains stranded thousands of refugees from across the border in Sudan.
- published: 07 Sep 2012
- views: 10764
- author: WORLDFOODPROGRAM
South Sudan army admits downing UN helicopter
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:56
- Updated: 25 Dec 2012
www.euronews.com The South Sudanese army now admits it shot down in error a UN helicopter killing its four Russian crew members. The UN says it was on a reconnaisance mission in an area where the SPLA has been fighting Yau Yau rebels. The army says it saw the Mi8 helicopter landing and contacted the UN mission, UNMISS, to find out if it had flights in the area. When told there were none, it opened fire. UNMISS has been operating in South Sudan since the July 2011 creation of the country, and since that September has reported six incidents of its planes being fired on, searched, threatened or detained. Russia has already stood down its UN air support group, some 120 people, after voicing safety concerns, and says it will pull out next March. Four UN troops also lost their lives in a separate incident in the western Darfur region in a friendly fire incident. Find us on: Youtube bit.ly Facebook www.facebook.com Twitter twitter.com
http://wn.com/South_Sudan_army_admits_downing_UN_helicopter
www.euronews.com The South Sudanese army now admits it shot down in error a UN helicopter killing its four Russian crew members. The UN says it was on a reconnaisance mission in an area where the SPLA has been fighting Yau Yau rebels. The army says it saw the Mi8 helicopter landing and contacted the UN mission, UNMISS, to find out if it had flights in the area. When told there were none, it opened fire. UNMISS has been operating in South Sudan since the July 2011 creation of the country, and since that September has reported six incidents of its planes being fired on, searched, threatened or detained. Russia has already stood down its UN air support group, some 120 people, after voicing safety concerns, and says it will pull out next March. Four UN troops also lost their lives in a separate incident in the western Darfur region in a friendly fire incident. Find us on: Youtube bit.ly Facebook www.facebook.com Twitter twitter.com
- published: 22 Dec 2012
- views: 1453
- author: Euronews
South Sudanese Models and Musicians (2012)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 13:17
- Updated: 05 Jan 2013
A short video to showcase the beauty of South Sudanese women. Positive comments welcome. Enjoy! Music: "Nakei Nairobi" by Mbilia Bel and "Mama Africa" Akon Note: I don't own the rights to any of these pictures or music.
http://wn.com/South_Sudanese_Models_and_Musicians_2012
A short video to showcase the beauty of South Sudanese women. Positive comments welcome. Enjoy! Music: "Nakei Nairobi" by Mbilia Bel and "Mama Africa" Akon Note: I don't own the rights to any of these pictures or music.
- published: 28 Jul 2012
- views: 4137
- author: SA2010fan
Ciara Mazakwe - African Time New South Sudan music 2012 Ugrecords1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:17
- Updated: 07 Jan 2013
Ciara Mazakwe - African Time New South Sudan music 2012 Ugrecords1
http://wn.com/Ciara_Mazakwe_African_Time_New_South_Sudan_music_2012_Ugrecords1
Ciara Mazakwe - African Time New South Sudan music 2012 Ugrecords1
- published: 15 Aug 2012
- views: 4188
- author: Ugrecords1
South Sudan to become world's newest country
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:58
- Updated: 27 Jun 2012
Preliminary results from southern Sudan's referendum show that 99.5 per cent voted for independence from the north. But there has already been backlash - a mutiny by Sudanese troops refusing to leave the south, has spread through several towns. At least 50 people have been killed in the past four days. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa reports from Juba in Southern Sudan on the challenges facing the new country.
http://wn.com/South_Sudan_to_become_world's_newest_country
Preliminary results from southern Sudan's referendum show that 99.5 per cent voted for independence from the north. But there has already been backlash - a mutiny by Sudanese troops refusing to leave the south, has spread through several towns. At least 50 people have been killed in the past four days. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa reports from Juba in Southern Sudan on the challenges facing the new country.
- published: 07 Feb 2011
- views: 14377
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
![South Sudan Newscast [July 9,2012] نشرة الأخبار](http://web.archive.org./web/20130110033943im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qF2FWlJyaVA/default.jpg "South Sudan Newscast [July 9,2012] نشرة الأخبار")
South Sudan Newscast [July 9,2012] نشرة الأخبار
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 17:53
- Updated: 13 Dec 2012
south sudan delivers the latest breaking news and information on the latest top stories, South Sudan, Watch SSTv Southern South Sudan Tv live online SouthSudanTv, Juba, Malakal, شاهد البث المباشر قناة تلفزيون جنوب السودان بث مباشر, Riek Machar, Lam Akol, Riek Gai, De Chand, Salva Kiir, Dang Ngundeng, Bashir, Bentiu,entertainment, politics, video, audio, photo galleries, Southern Sudan, South Sudan, South Sudan discussion forum, civil war in Sudan, Forum of Southern Sudan, Sudanese government, south sudan peace agreement, john garang, Dr John Garang de Mabior, southern Sudan, The death of John Garang, southern Sudan leader, Selva Pidento, Omar al-Bashir, President al-Bashir, The Sudanese president, southern Sudan president.
http://wn.com/South_Sudan_Newscast_July_9,2012_نشرة_الأخبار
south sudan delivers the latest breaking news and information on the latest top stories, South Sudan, Watch SSTv Southern South Sudan Tv live online SouthSudanTv, Juba, Malakal, شاهد البث المباشر قناة تلفزيون جنوب السودان بث مباشر, Riek Machar, Lam Akol, Riek Gai, De Chand, Salva Kiir, Dang Ngundeng, Bashir, Bentiu,entertainment, politics, video, audio, photo galleries, Southern Sudan, South Sudan, South Sudan discussion forum, civil war in Sudan, Forum of Southern Sudan, Sudanese government, south sudan peace agreement, john garang, Dr John Garang de Mabior, southern Sudan, The death of John Garang, southern Sudan leader, Selva Pidento, Omar al-Bashir, President al-Bashir, The Sudanese president, southern Sudan president.
- published: 09 Jul 2012
- views: 2975
- author: ssudanonline
Summer in South Sudan
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 21:30
- Updated: 29 Nov 2012
A short documentary of my time in South Sudan during their official declaration of independence.
http://wn.com/Summer_in_South_Sudan
A short documentary of my time in South Sudan during their official declaration of independence.
- published: 26 Jul 2011
- views: 6149
- author: Zach Skiles
African style - Kawaja. South Sudan
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:25
- Updated: 04 Jan 2013
http://wn.com/African_style_Kawaja_South_Sudan
South Sudan mired in tribal conflict
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:54
- Updated: 30 Sep 2012
Last July, the world's youngest country, South Sudan, peacefully seceded from Sudan. Today, women and children are being killed and thousands of cattle stolen as the new country falls prey to inter-ethnic violence. In December, between 6000 and 8000 fighters from one ethnic group attacked another, in a brutal escalation of tit-for-tat attacks. FRANCE 24 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 24/7 www.france24.com
http://wn.com/South_Sudan_mired_in_tribal_conflict
Last July, the world's youngest country, South Sudan, peacefully seceded from Sudan. Today, women and children are being killed and thousands of cattle stolen as the new country falls prey to inter-ethnic violence. In December, between 6000 and 8000 fighters from one ethnic group attacked another, in a brutal escalation of tit-for-tat attacks. FRANCE 24 INTERNATIONAL NEWS 24/7 www.france24.com
- published: 16 Feb 2012
- views: 4564
- author: france24english
Cleft Lip Surgery Repairs Lives in South Sudan
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:46
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
People with cleft lip defects in South Sudan are often ostracized by their communities. Watch as Samaritan's Purse medical volunteers surgically repair smiles and restore hope. Learn more about the ministry of Samaritan's Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org.
http://wn.com/Cleft_Lip_Surgery_Repairs_Lives_in_South_Sudan
People with cleft lip defects in South Sudan are often ostracized by their communities. Watch as Samaritan's Purse medical volunteers surgically repair smiles and restore hope. Learn more about the ministry of Samaritan's Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org.
- published: 07 Jan 2013
- views: 135
- author: SamaritansPurseVideo
photo: AP / Menahem Kahana
08 Jan 2013
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - It's Bibi against the world on a campaign trail that took the combative Israeli prime minister to a Jewish settlement on Tuesday. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem December 9, 2012. REUTERS/Ammar Awad ... Tweaking his message to match the locality, Netanyahu said ... The danger comes from Iran, which is building nuclear weapons." ... CHEMICAL WEAPONS ... ....(size: 3.8Kb)
photo: AP / Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
08 Jan 2013
MOSCOW, January 8 (RIA Novosti) – At least 17 billion Earth-size planets may inhabit the Milky Way galaxy, SPACE.com reported citing a new study by US astronomers ... That translates to a minimum of 17 billion planets as there are about 100 billion stars in the Milky Way ... Over a hundred of candidates have been confirmed as planets so far, NASA said....(size: 1.7Kb)
photo: AP / Channi Anand
09 Jan 2013
JAMMU, India (Reuters) - India slammed arch-rival Pakistan on Wednesday over a fire fight in the disputed territory of Kashmir in which two of its soldiers were killed, and said the mutilation of one of the bodies was "inhuman". India's Defence Minister A.K. Antony waits to speak at a plenary session of the 11th International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit ... REUTERS/Tim Chong ... ....(size: 2.6Kb)
photo: AP / Richard Drew
09 Jan 2013
A commuter ferry has crashed into the dockside in Lower Manhattan in New York during the morning rush hour, injuring between 30 and 50 people.. The Seastreak Ferry, which provides daily services from Atlantic Highlands in New Jersey, struck Pier 11 in the East River not far from Wall Street at about 8.45am ET (1.45pm GMT).. Officials say at least two of the passengers were in a critical condition, one with confirmed head injuries. ... ....(size: 4.5Kb)
photo: US Army / Sgt. Christopher Bonebrake
07 Jan 2013
Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling. When Congress granted President Lyndon B. Johnson absolute powers to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression," Congress could have also included "all necessary vanities." The 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which greatly escalated a foreign imperial war in Vietnam, added fuel to the bonfires of vanity....(size: 5.2Kb)
Yahoo Daily News
10 Jan 2013
Sudan and South Sudan met over the weekend in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to hash out differences regarding oil revenue sharing and border security, as reported by Reuters ... The areas are bordering South Sudan, and have seen violence between the military rebels known as the SPLM-North ... a proxy military force sent from rival South Sudan to cause problems....(size: 2.7Kb)
The Himalayan
10 Jan 2013
Rebels have seized two towns in Darfur, international peacekeepers quoted a local leader as saying, as fighting raged in at least two parts of the troubled region of western Sudan ... Sudan's state radio said authorities closed the mine on Wednesday ... The three main rebel groups have formed an alliance with insurgents in two states bordering the newly-seceded country of South Sudan, forcing Sudan's army to fight in three places at once....(size: 5.9Kb)
Novosti
09 Jan 2013
KHARTOUM, January 10 (RIA Novosti) - South Sudan has ... Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan agreed last September to end violence in border districts and withdraw troops from disputed regions in order to resume oil extraction in South Sudan and its transit via the Sudanese territory....(size: 1.4Kb)
All Africa
09 Jan 2013
[SSNA]Adelaide, Australia -Khartoum's aggression on the Republic of South Sudan ......(size: 0.4Kb)
All Africa
09 Jan 2013
All Africa
09 Jan 2013
photo: UN / Mark Garten
09 Jan 2013
He accused the government of South Sudan of supplying the SPLM-N rebels with military equipment and logistical support - an allegation that South Sudan's president Salva Kiir denies - and demanded that South Sudan stop all backing for the rebels ... The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday and agreed to the ......(size: 4.1Kb)
Mail Guardian South Africa
09 Jan 2013
He accused the government of South Sudan of supplying the SPLM-N rebels with military equipment and logistical support - an allegation that South Sudan's President Salva Kiir denies - and demanded that South Sudan stop all backing for the rebels ... The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday and agreed to the ......(size: 4.5Kb)
Newsday
09 Jan 2013
He accused the government of South Sudan of supplying the SPLM-N rebels with military equipment and logistical support -- an allegation that South Sudan's President Salva Kiir denies -- and demanded that South Sudan stop all backing for the rebels ... The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan met in , Ethiopia on Saturday and agreed to the unconditional and ......(size: 4.4Kb)
Khaleej Times
09 Jan 2013
He accused the government of South Sudan of supplying the SPLM-N rebels with military equipment and logistical support — an allegation that South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir denies — and demanded that South Sudan stop all backing for the rebels ... The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday and ......(size: 4.2Kb)
Yahoo Daily News
09 Jan 2013
Rebels in the area, known as SPLM-North, say they are fighting to protect ethnic minorities from repression and marginalization, while Khartoum accuses them of trying to spread chaos at the bidding of South Sudan, which seceded last year. Fighting began in South Kordofan in June 2011, just before South Sudan seceded from the north, and spread to Blue Nile in September of the same year....(size: 3.7Kb)
The Washington Post
09 Jan 2013
He accused the government of South Sudan of supplying the SPLM-N rebels with military equipment and logistical support — an allegation that South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir denies — and demanded that South Sudan stop all backing for the rebels ... The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday and ......(size: 6.3Kb)
BBC News
09 Jan 2013
then the inevitable consequence is more people will die, more needless humanitarian suffering will occur and more displacement into South Sudan and Ethiopia," he warned ... The government in Khartoum accuses South Sudan of backing the rebels - a claim denied by Juba. Since South Sudan's independence, tension between the new neighbours has been ......(size: 2.5Kb)
"Southern Sudan" redirects here. For the former autonomous regions of Sudan, see Government of Southern Sudan (1972–1983) and Government of Southern Sudan (2005–2011).
| Republic of South Sudan | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||
| Motto: "Justice, Liberty, Prosperity" | ||||||
| Anthem: "South Sudan Oyee!" |
||||||
.svg) Location of South Sudan (dark blue)
– in Africa (light blue & dark grey) |
||||||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Juba 04°51′N 31°36′E / 4.85°N 31.6°E / 4.85; 31.6 |
|||||
| Official language(s) | English[1][2] | |||||
| Recognised national languages | Sudanese indigenous languages[3] | |||||
| Demonym | South Sudanese | |||||
| Government | Federal presidential democratic republic | |||||
| - | President | Salva Kiir Mayardit | ||||
| - | Vice President | Riek Machar | ||||
| Legislature | National Legislature | |||||
| - | Upper house | Council of States | ||||
| - | Lower house | National Legislative Assembly | ||||
| Independence | from Sudan | |||||
| - | Comprehensive Peace Agreement | 6 January 2005 | ||||
| - | Autonomy | 9 July 2005 | ||||
| - | Independence | 9 July 2011 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 619,745 km2 (42nd) 239,285 sq mi |
||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2008 census | 8,260,490 (disputed)[4] (94th) | ||||
| - | Density | 13.33/km2 (214) 34.52/sq mi |
||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2011 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $13.227 billion [5] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $1,546 [5] | ||||
| Currency | South Sudanese pound (SSP) |
|||||
| Time zone | East Africa Time (UTC+3) | |||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| ISO 3166 code | SS | |||||
| Internet TLD | .ss[6] (registered but not yet operational) | |||||
| Calling code | +211[7] | |||||
South Sudan (i/ˌsaʊθ suːˈdæn/ or /suːˈdɑːn/), officially the Republic of South Sudan,[8] is a landlocked country in the east-central African region of northeastern Africa.[8] It is also part of the North Africa UN subregion.[9] Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more centrally located Ramciel in the future.[10] South Sudan is bordered by Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, the Central African Republic to the west, and Sudan to the north. South Sudan includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd formed by the White Nile, locally called the Bahr al Jabal.
The modern states of South Sudan and Sudan were part of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, later being governed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium until Sudanese independence was achieved in 1956. Following the First Sudanese Civil War, the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A second Sudanese civil war soon developed and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. Later that year, southern autonomy was restored when an Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was formed.
South Sudan became an independent state on 9 July 2011.[11][12] It is a United Nations member state,[13][14] a member state of the African Union,[15] and a member state of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.[16]
Contents |
History[link]
Main article: History of South Sudan
The Nilotic peoples—the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk and others—first entered South Sudan sometime before the 10th century. During the period from the 15th to the 19th centuries, tribal migrations, largely from the area of Bahr el Ghazal, brought these peoples to their modern locations. The non-Nilotic Azande people, who entered South Sudan in the 16th century, established the region's largest state. The Azande are the third- or fourth-largest ethnic group in South Sudan (either the Azande or the Bari are third-largest). They are found in the Maridi, Yambio, and Tambura districts in the tropical rainforest belt of Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal. In the 18th century, the Avungara sib rose to power over the rest of Azande society and this domination continued into the 20th century.[17] Geographical barriers prevented the spread of Islam to the southerners, thus enabling them to retain their social and cultural heritage, as well as their political and religious institutions.
The Azande have had difficult relations with the neighbours, namely the Moru, Mundu, Pöjulu, and the small groups in Bahr el Ghazal, due to the expansionist policy of their king, Gbudwe, in the 18th century. In the 19th century, the Azande fought the French, the Belgians and the Mahdists to maintain their independence. Egypt, under the rule of Khedive Isma'il Pasha, first attempted to control the region in the 1870s, establishing the province of Equatoria in the southern portion. Egypt's first governor was Samuel Baker, commissioned in 1869, followed by Charles George Gordon in 1874 and by Emin Pasha in 1878. The Mahdist Revolt of the 1880s destabilised the nascent province, and Equatoria ceased to exist as an Egyptian outpost in 1889. Important settlements in Equatoria included Lado, Gondokoro, Dufile and Wadelai. In 1947, British hopes to join South Sudan with Uganda were dashed by the Juba Conference to unify North and South Sudan.
South Sudan has an estimated population of 8 million,[18] but given the lack of a census in several decades, this estimate may be severely distorted. The economy is predominantly rural and relies chiefly on subsistence farming.[18] Around 2005, the economy began a transition from this rural dominance, and urban areas within South Sudan have seen extensive development. The region has been negatively affected by two civil wars since Sudanese independence – the Sudanese government fought the Anyanya rebel army from 1955 to 1972 in the First Sudanese Civil War, and then the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) in the Second Sudanese Civil War for almost 21 years after the founding of SPLA/M in 1983 – resulting in serious neglect, lack of infrastructural development, and major destruction and displacement. More than 2.5 million people have been killed, and more than 5 million have become externally displaced, while others have been internally displaced, becoming refugees as a result of the civil war and war-related impacts.
A referendum was held from 9 to 15 January 2011 to determine if South Sudan should declare its independence from Sudan, with 98.83% of the population voting for independence. (The results for that referendum were released on 30 January 2011.)[19] Those living in the north and expatriates living overseas also voted.[20] This led to a formal independence on 9 July, although certain disputes still remain, such as sharing of the oil revenues, as an estimated 80% of the oil in the nation is secured from South Sudan, which would represent amazing economic potential for one of the world's most deprived areas. The region of Abyei still remains disputed and a separate referendum will be held in Abyei on whether they want to join North or South Sudan.[21] The South Kordofan conflict broke out in June 2011 between the Army of Sudan and the SPLA over the Nuba Mountains.
South Sudan is at war with at least seven armed groups in 9 of its 10 states, with tens of thousands displaced.[22] The fighters accuse the government of plotting to stay in power indefinitely, not fairly representing and supporting all tribal groups while neglecting development in rural areas.[22][23] Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) also operates in a wide area that includes South Sudan.[24]
Interethnic warfare that in some cases predates the war of independence is widespread.[25] In December 2011, tribal clashes in Jonglei intensified between the Nuer White Army of the Lou Nuer and the Murle.[26] The White Army warned it would wipe out the Murle and would also fight South Sudanese and UN forces sent to the area around Pibor.[27]
In March 2012, South Sudanese forces seized the Heglig oil fields in lands claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan in the province of South Kordofan after conflict with Sudanese forces in the South Sudanese state of Unity.[28]
Politics[link]
Government[link]
Main article: Politics of South Sudan
The now defunct Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly ratified a transitional constitution[29] shortly before independence on 9 July 2011.[30] The constitution was signed by the President of South Sudan on Independence Day and thereby came into force. It is now the supreme law of the land, superseding the Interim Constitution of 2005.[31] The constitution establishes a mixed presidential system of government headed by a president who is head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. It also establishes the National Legislature comprising two houses: a directly elected assembly, the National Legislative Assembly; and a second chamber of representatives of the states, the Council of States. John Garang, the founder of the SPLA/M was the first president of the autonomous government until his death on 30 July 2005. Salva Kiir Mayardit,[8][32] his deputy, was sworn in as First Vice President of Sudan and President of the Government of Southern Sudan on 11 August 2005. Riek Machar[8] replaced him as Vice-President of the Government. Legislative power is vested in the government and the bicameral National Legislature. The constitution also provides for an independent judiciary, the highest organ being the Supreme Court.
Developing state capacity[link]
 |
The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (August 2011) |
The post-conflict environment is important to understanding the Government of South Sudan's ability to function and successfully implement its policies. One area in which the Government of South Sudan has had significant success in building its own capacity is developing an integrated system for planning and budget preparation.[33] This has been achieved through the leadership of the Ministry of Finance, the strong technical leadership and support of that same ministry and making these goals relevant to local capacity.[33] The results have been that the government has been better able to manage the financial aspects of its functions and projects, and increases in the expertise of its staff in crucial skills, such as basic IT.[33]
National capital project[link]
The capital of South Sudan is located at Juba, which is also the state capital of Central Equatoria and the county seat of the eponymous Juba County, as well as being the country's largest city. However, due to Juba's poor infrastructure and massive urban growth, as well as its lack of centrality within South Sudan, the South Sudanese Government adopted a resolution in February 2011 to study the creation of a new planned city to act as the seat of the government.[34][35] This proposed project is functionally similar to those which resulted in the construction of Abuja, Nigeria; Brasília, Brazil; and Canberra, Australia; among other national capitals planned and built in the modern era. It is unclear where the government will come up with funding for the project.
In September 2011, a spokesman for the government said the country's political leaders had accepted a proposal to build a new capital at Ramciel,[36] a place in Lakes state near the borders with Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, and Jonglei. Ramciel is considered to be the geographical center of the country,[37] and the late pro-independence leader John Garang allegedly had plans to relocate the capital there before his death in 2005. The proposal was supported by the Lakes state government and at least one Ramciel tribal chief.[38] The design, planning, and construction of the city will likely take as many as five years, government ministers said, and the move of national institutions to the new capital will be implemented in stages.[36]
States and counties[link]
Main article: States of South Sudan
South Sudan is divided into ten states which correspond to three historical regions of the Sudan: Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Greater Upper Nile.
- Western Equatoria
- Central Equatoria (containing the national capital city of Juba)
- Eastern Equatoria
The ten states are further subdivided into 86 counties.
The Abyei Area, a small region of Sudan bordering on the South Sudanese states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, and Unity, currently has a special administrative status in Sudan and is governed by an Abyei Area Administration. It was due to hold a referendum in 2011 on whether to join South Sudan or remain part of the Republic of Sudan, but in May the Sudanese military seized Abyei, and it is not clear if the referendum will be held.
Military[link]
Main article: Armed forces of South Sudan
A Defense paper was initiated in 2007 by then Minister for SPLA Affairs Dominic Dim Deng, and a draft was produced in 2008. It declared that Southern Sudan would eventually maintain land, air, and riverine forces.[39][40]
Media[link]
Main article: Media of South Sudan
While Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin vowed that South Sudan will respect freedom of the press and allow journalists unrestricted access in the country, the chief editor of Juba newspaper The Citizen claimed that in the absence of a formal media law in the fledgling republic, he and his staff have faced abuse at the hands of security forces. This alleged fettering of media freedom was attributed in an Al Jazeera report to the difficulty SPLM has faced in reforming itself as a legitimate government after years of leading a rebellion against the Sudanese government. The Citizen is South Sudan's largest newspaper, but poor infrastructure and poverty have kept its staff relatively small and limited the efficiency of both its reporting and its circulation outside of Juba, with no dedicated news bureaus in outlying states and newspapers often taking several days to reach states like Northern Bahr el Ghazal.[41]
Censorship[link]
On 1 November 2011, South Sudan's National Security Services (NSS) arrested the editor of a private Juba-based daily, Destiny, and suspended its activities indefinitely. This was in response to an opinion article by columnist Dengdit Ayok, entitled "Let Me Say So", which criticized the president for allowing his daughter to marry an Ethiopian national and accused him of "staining his patriotism". An official letter accused the newspaper of non-adherence to "the media code of conduct and professional ethics", and of publishing "illicit news" that was defamatory, inciting, and invading the privacy of personalities. The Committee to Protect Journalists had voiced concerns over media freedoms in South Sudan in September.[42] The journalists were released without charge after having been held for 18 days.[43]
Foreign relations[link]
Main article: Foreign relations of South Sudan
Since independence, relations with Sudan have been changing. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir first announced, in January 2011, that dual citizenship in the North and the South would be allowed,[44] but upon the independence of South Sudan he retracted the offer. He has also suggested an EU-style confederation.[45] Essam Sharaf, Prime Minister of Egypt after the 2011 Egyptian revolution, made his first foreign visit to Khartoum and Juba in the lead-up to South Sudan's secession.[46] Israel quickly recognized South Sudan as an independent country, and is host to thousands of refugees from South Sudan, who are now ready to return to their native country.[47] Egypt, Sudan, Germany and Kenya were first to recognise the country's independence on 8 July 2011.
South Sudan is a member state of the United Nations,[48] the African Union,[15][49] and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.[50] South Sudan plans to join the Commonwealth of Nations,[51] the East African Community,[52][53][54] the International Monetary Fund,[55] and the World Bank.[56] Full membership in the Arab League has been assured, should the country's government choose to seek it,[57] though it could also opt for observer status.[58] It was admitted to UNESCO on 3 November 2011.[59] On 25 November 2011, it officially joined the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a regional grouping of East African states.[60]
While the United States lifted all economic and political sanctions against South Sudan as of July 2011, the sanctions imposed against neighboring Sudan, especially those relating to oil and financial sector transactions, are likely to continue to impact the new nation. A 2011 Congressional Research Service report, “The Republic of South Sudan: Opportunities and Challenges for Africa’s Newest Country", identifies outstanding political and humanitarian issues as the country forges its future.[61]
Human rights[link]
Main article: Human rights in South Sudan
Campaigns of atrocities against civilians have been attributed to the SPLA.[62] In the SPLA/M's attempt to disarm rebellions among the Shilluk and Murle, they burned scores of villages, raped hundreds of women and girls and killed an untold number of civilians.[62] Civilians alleging torture claim fingernails being torn out, burning plastic bags dripped on children to make their parents hand over weapons and villagers burned alive in their huts if rebels were suspected of spending the night there.[62] In May 2011, the SPLA allegedly set fire to over 7,000 homes in Unity State.[63] The UN reports many of these violations and the frustrated director of one Juba-based international aid agency calls them "human rights abuses off the Richter scale".[62] In 2010, the CIA issued a warning that "over the next five years,...a new mass killing or genocide is most likely to occur in southern Sudan."[62] The Nuer White Army has stated it wished to "wipe out the entire Murle tribe on the face of the earth as the only solution to guarantee long-term security of Nuer’s cattle"[27] and activists, including Minority Rights Group International, warn of genocide in the current Jonglei conflict.[64]
Geography[link]
Main article: Geography of South Sudan
South Sudan lies between latitudes 3° and 13°N, and longitudes 24° and 36°E. It is covered in tropical forest, swamps, and grassland. The White Nile passes through the country, passing by Juba.[44]
Biodiversity[link]
 |
This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability. |
South Sudan's protected area of Bandingilo National Park hosts the second-largest wildlife migration in the world. Surveys have revealed that Boma National Park, west of the Ethiopian border, as well as the Sudd wetland and Southern National Park near the border with Congo, provided habitat for large populations of hartebeest, kob, topi, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, and lions. South Sudan's forest reserves also provided habitat for bongo, giant forest hogs, red river hogs, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and forest monkeys. Surveys begun in 2005 by WCS in partnership with the semi-autonomous government of Southern Sudan revealed that significant, though diminished wildlife populations still exist, and that, astonishingly, the huge migration of 1.3 million antelopes in the southeast is substantially intact.
Habitats in the country include grasslands, high-altitude plateaus and escarpments, wooded and grassy savannas, floodplains, and wetlands. Associated wildlife species include the endemic white-eared kob and Nile Lechwe, as well as elephants, giraffes, common eland, giant eland, oryx, lions, African wild dogs, cape buffalo, and topi (locally called tiang). Little is known about the white-eared kob and tiang, both types of antelope, whose magnificent migrations were legendary before the civil war. The Boma-Jonglei Landscape region encompasses Boma National Park, broad pasturelands and floodplains, Bandingilo National Park, and the Sudd, a vast area of swamp and seasonally flooded grasslands that includes the Zeraf Wildlife Reserve.
Little is known of the fungi of South Sudan. A list of fungi in Sudan was prepared by S.A.J. Tarr and published by the then Commonwealth Mycological Institute (Kew, Surrey, UK) in 1955. The list, of 383 species in 175 genera, included all fungi observed within the then boundaries of the country. Many of those records relate to what is now South Sudan. Most of the species recorded were associated with diseases of crops. The true number of species of fungi occurring in South Sudan is likely to be much higher.
In 2006, President Kiir announced that his government would do everything possible to protect and propagate South Sudanese fauna and flora, and seek to reduce the effects of wildfires, waste dumping, and water pollution. The environment is threatened by the development of the economy and infrastructure.
Several ecoregions extend across South Sudan: the East Sudanian savanna, Northern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic, Saharan flooded grasslands (Sudd), Sahelian Acacia savanna, East African montane forests, and the Northern Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets.[65]
Climate[link]
South Sudan has a climate similar to an Equatorial or tropical climate, characterized by a rainy season of high humidity and large amounts of rainfall followed by a drier season. The temperature on average is always high with July being the coolest month with an average temperatures falling between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit and March being the warmest month with average temperatures ranging from 73 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit.[66]
The most rainfall is seen between May and October, but the rainy season can commence in April and extend until November. On average May is the wettest month. The season is “influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Zone” [67] and the shift to southerly and southwesterly winds leading to slightly lower temperatures, higher humidity, and more cloud coverage.[68]
Demographics[link]
Main article: Demographics of South Sudan
South Sudan has a population of around 8 million and a predominantly rural, subsistence economy. This region has been negatively affected by war for all but 10 years of the independence period (1956), resulting in serious neglect, lack of infrastructure development, and major destruction and displacement. More than 2 million people have died, and more than 4 million are internally displaced persons or became refugees as a result of the civil war and war-related impacts. Here the South Sudanese practice mainly indigenous traditional beliefs, although some practice Christianity, as a result of Christian missionary efforts.[18] The south contains many tribal groups and uses many more languages than the north. The major ethnic groups present in South Sudan are the Dinka at more than 1 million (approximately 15 percent combined), the Nuer (approximately ten percent), the Bari, and the Azande. The Shilluk constitute a historically influential state along the White Nile, and their language is fairly closely related to Dinka and Nuer. The traditional territories of the Shilluk and the Northeastern Dinka are adjacent.
Education[link]
Main article: Education in South Sudan
The educational system of South Sudan is modelled after that of the Republic of Sudan. Primary education consists of eight years, followed by three years of secondary education, and then four years of university instruction; the 8 + 3 + 4 system, in place since 1990. The primary language at all levels is English, as compared to the Republic of Sudan, where the language of instruction is Arabic.[69] There is a severe shortage of English teachers and English-speaking teachers in the scientific and technical fields.
Languages[link]
Further information: Eastern Sudanic languages, Central Sudanic languages, Ubangian languages, and English language
The official language of South Sudan is English.[1]
Indigenous languages[link]
There are over 60 indigenous languages spoken in South Sudan. Most of the indigenous languages are classified under the Nilo-Saharan language family; collectively, they represent two of the first order divisions of Nilo-Saharan (Eastern Sudanic and Central Sudanic). The remainder belong to the Ubangi languages of the Niger–Congo language family, and they are spoken in the southwest. The most recent available population statistics for many South Sudan indigenous languages go back to the 1980s. Since then, the war of independence led to many civilian deaths and massive displacement of refugees to Sudan and beyond. Due to the drafting of colonial borders in Africa by European powers during the 19th and 20th centuries, some indigenous languages of South Sudan are spoken in neighboring countries, in some cases more so than in South Sudan. Zande, for example is estimated to have twice as many speakers in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, while the Banda group of languages may have more speakers in the Central African Republic than in South Sudan. In South Sudan, the languages with the most speakers are Nuer with 740,000 speakers in 1982, and Dinka sociolinguistic language or dialect continuum with perhaps 1.4 million in 1986; these two groups of languages are also closely related to one another. Bari had 420,000 in 2000, and Zande had 350,000 in 1982. Of the Ubangi languages, available figures indicate that Zande is the only one with a substantial number of speakers in South Sudan.[70]
Nonindigenous languages[link]
In the state of Western Bahr Al Ghazal, in its border region with the neighboring country of Sudan, there is an indeterminate number of Baggara Arabs—a traditionally nomadic people—that resides either seasonally or permanently. Their language is Chadian Arabic and their traditional territories are in the southern portions of the Sudanese regions of Kordofan and Darfur. In the capital, Juba, there are several thousand people who use an Arabic pidgin, Juba Arabic.[71][72] Since South Sudan was part of Sudan for a century, some South Sudanese are conversant in either Sudanese Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic.
During the Rejaf Conference held in April 1928 during the Anglo-Egyptian condominium it was decided that schooling in the South would be in the English language. Although since independence the government tried to replace English with Arabic, part of the peace agreement in 1972 ensured that English continued as the medium of education in most schools in southern Sudan. English is widely spoken by those who have had the opportunity of going to school, either within South Sudan or in the diaspora.
South Sudan's ambassador to Kenya said on 2 August 2011 that Swahili will be introduced in South Sudan with the goal of supplanting Arabic as a lingua franca, in keeping with the country's intention of orientation toward the East African Community rather than Sudan and the Arab League.[73]
A group of South Sudanese refugees who were raised in Cuba during the Sudanese wars, numbering about 600, also speak fluent Spanish. They have been named the Cubanos, and most had settled in Juba by the time of the country's independence.[74]
Population[link]
2008 census[link]
The "Fifth Population and Housing Census of Sudan", of Sudan as a whole, was conducted in April 2008. However, the census results of Southern Sudan were rejected by Southern Sudanese officials on reported grounds that "the central bureau of statistics in Khartoum refused to share the national Sudan raw census data with the southern Sudan centre for census, statistics and evaluation."[75] The census showed the Southern Sudan population to be 8.26 million;[4][76] However, President Kiir had "suspected figures were being deflated in some regions and inflated in others, and that made the final tally 'unacceptable'."[77] He also claimed the Southern Sudanese population to really be one-third of Sudan, while the census showed it to be only 22%.[76] Many southern Sudanese were also said to had been uncounted "due to bad weather, poor communication and transport networks, and some areas were unreachable, while many southern Sudanese remained in exile in neighbouring countries, leading to 'unacceptable results', according [to] southern Sudanese authorities."[77] The chief American technical adviser for the census in the South said the census-takers probably reached 89% of the population.[78]
2009 census[link]
In 2009, Sudan started a new Southern Sudanese census ahead of the 2011 independence referendum, which is said to also include the Southern Sudanese diaspora. However this initiative was criticised as it was to leave out countries with a high share of the Southern Sudanese diaspora, and rather count countries where the diaspora share was low.[79]
Religion[link]
Main article: Religion in South Sudan
See also: Islam in South Sudan
Religions followed by the South Sudanese include traditional indigenous religions, Christianity and Islam.[80] The last census to mention the religion of southerners dates back to 1956 where a majority followed traditional beliefs while the rest were classified as either Christian or Muslim.[81] Scholarly[82][83][84] and U.S. Department of State sources[18] state that a majority of southern Sudanese maintain traditional indigenous (sometimes referred to as Animist) beliefs with those following Christianity in a minority (albeit an influential one), making South Sudan one of the very few countries in the world where most people follow traditional indigenous religion. According to the Federal Research Division of the US Library of Congress: "in the early 1990s possibly no more than 10 percent of southern Sudan's population was Christian".[85] In the early 1990s, official records of Sudan claimed that from population of what then included South Sudan, 25% of people followed traditional religions and 5% were Christians.[86] However, some news reports claim a Christian majority,[87][88] and the US Episcopal Church claims the existence of large numbers of Anglican adherents from the Episcopal Church of the Sudan: 2 million members in 2005.[89] Likewise, according to the World Christian Encyclopedia, the Catholic Church is the largest single Christian body in Sudan since 1995, with 2.7 million Catholics mainly concentrated in South Sudan.[90]
Speaking at Saint Theresa Cathedral in Juba, South Sudanese President Kiir, a Roman Catholic, stated that South Sudan would be a nation which respects the freedom of religion.[91] Amongst Christians, most are Catholic and Anglican, though other denominations are also active, and animist beliefs are often blended with Christian beliefs.[92]
Culture[link]
Main article: Culture of South Sudan
Due to the many years of the civil war, the culture is heavily influenced by the countries neighboring South Sudan. Many South Sudanese fled to Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda where they interacted with the nationals and learnt their languages and culture. For most of those who remained in the country, or went North to Sudan and Egypt, they greatly assimilated Arabic culture.
It is also worth noting that most South Sudanese kept the core of their culture even while in exile and diaspora. Traditional culture is highly upheld and a great focus is given to knowing one's origin and dialect. Although the common languages spoken are Arabi Juba and English, Kiswahili is being introduced to the population to improve the country's relations with its East African neighbors. Many music artists from South Sudan use English, Kiswahili, Arabi Juba, their dialect or a mix of all. Popular artists like Yaba Angelosi sings Afro-beat, R&B, and Zouk; Dynamiq is popular for his reggae releases; and Emmanuel Kembe who sings Folk, Reggae and Afro-beat.
There are few female artists however that South Sudan has produced so far. Reflections BYG is a beautiful fresh voice rocking the Zouk floor with her first single Ng'ume which means Smile, was a big hit in just a few days of its release.. She has an amazing strong voice for the popular Jazz as well as Afrobeat and Hip Hop; De-vine singing R&B and Zouk; Nyaruach on the Afro-beat and pop; Queen Zee is known for her rap music..
Games and sports[link]
Many traditional and modern games and sports are popular in South Sudan, particularly wrestling and mock battles. The traditional sports were mainly played after the harvest seasons to celebrate the harvests and finish the farming seasons. During the matches, they smeared themselves with ochre – perhaps to enhance the grip or heighten their perception. The matches attracted large numbers of spectators who sang, played drums and danced in support of their favourite wrestlers. Though these were perceived as competition, they were primarily for entertainment.[93]
In the modern era, South Sudanese have excelled in international sports. Luol Deng is a National Basketball Association star in the United States, where he plays for the Chicago Bulls; at the international level he represents Great Britain. Other leading international basketball players from South Sudan include Manute Bol, Ajou Deng, Kueth Duany, Deng Gai and Ater Majok. The South Sudan national basketball team played its first match against Uganda national basketball team on 10 July 2011 in Juba.[94]
Association football is also becoming popular in South Sudan, and there are many initiatives by the Government of South Sudan and other partners to promote the sport and improve the level of play. One of these initiatives is South Sudan Youth Sports Association (SSYSA). SSYSA is already holding soccer clinics in Konyokonyo and Muniki areas of Juba in which young boys are coached. In recognition of these efforts with youth soccer, the country recently hosted the CECAFA youth soccer competitions. Barely a month earlier, it had also hosted the larger East African Schools Sports tournaments.[citation needed] The South Sudan national association football team joined the Confederation of African Football in February 2012 and became a full FIFA member in May 2012.[95] The team played its first match against Tusker FC of the Kenyan Premier League on 10 July 2011 in Juba as part of independence celebrations,[94] scoring early but losing 1–3 to the more experienced team.[96]
Economy[link]
Main article: Economy of South Sudan
The economy of South Sudan is one of the world's weakest and most underdeveloped with South Sudan having little existing infrastructure and the highest maternal mortality and female illiteracy rates in the world as of 2011.[97] South Sudan exports timber to the international market. The region also contains many natural resources such as petroleum, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, diamonds, hardwoods, limestone and hydropower.[98] The country's economy, as in many other developing countries, is heavily dependent on agriculture.
Oil[link]
The oilfields in the South have kept the region's economy alive since 1999. However, after South Sudan became an independent nation in July 2011, southern and northern negotiators were not immediately able to reach an agreement on how to split the revenue from these southern oilfields.[99] It is estimated that around 80% of the untapped oil deposits in Sudan are in South Sudan. The oil revenues, according to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), were split equally for the duration of the agreement period.[100] Since South Sudan relies on pipelines, refineries, and Port Sudan's facilities in Red Sea state in Sudan, the agreement stated that the government of Sudan in Khartoum would receive a 50% share of all oil revenues.[100][101] This arrangement was maintained during the second period of autonomy from 2005 to 2011. A similar arrangement is likely to continue during the independence era of South Sudan, with northern negotiators reportedly pressing for a deal maintaining the 50–50 split of oil revenues and the South Sudanese holding out for more favorable terms.[102] Oil revenues constitute more than 98% of the government of South Sudan's budget according to the southern government's Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and this has amounted to more than $8 billion in revenue since the signing of the peace agreement.[100]
South Sudan's economy is under pressure to diversify away from oil as oil reserves will likely halve by 2020 if no new finds are made, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).[103]
Debt[link]
In terms of South Sudan’s external debt, the North and South maintain a shared debt of approximately 38 billion dollars, all of which has accumulated throughout the past five decades.[104] Though a small portion of this debt is owed to such international institutions as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (approximately 5.3 billion according to a 2009 report provided by the Bank of Sudan), the bulk of its debt load is actually owed to numerous foreign actors that have provided the nation with financial loans, including the Paris Club (over 11 billion dollars) and also non-Paris Club bilateral creditors (over 13 billion dollars).[105] The Paris Club refers to an informal group of financial officials from 19 of the world’s most influential economies, including such member nations as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Canada, while non-Paris Club bilateral creditors refers to any entity that does not enjoy permanent/associated status as a Paris Club member.[106] Private bilateral creditors (i.e. private commercial banks and private credit suppliers) account for the majority of the remainder (approximately 6 billion of the total debt).[107] While it is possible to arrive at a relatively accurate determination of the region’s total debt accumulation, it is not yet possible to determine precisely how much debt the newly formed nation of South Sudan independently carries, as an agreement has not yet been reached between the North and South regarding this highly contentious issue.
Transport[link]
Main article: Transport in South Sudan
Railway[link]
Main article: Rail transport in South Sudan
South Sudan has 248 km (154 mi) of single-track 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge railway line from the Sudanese border to Wau terminus. There are proposed extensions from Wau to Juba. There are also plans to link Juba with the Kenyan and Ugandan railway networks.
Air[link]
Main article: List of airports in South Sudan
The busiest and most developed airport in South Sudan is Juba Airport, which has regular international connections to Entebbe, Nairobi, Cairo, Addis Ababa, and Khartoum. Juba Airport is also the home base of Feeder Airlines Company and Southern Star Airlines.[108] Other international airports include Malakal, with international flights to Addis Ababa and Khartoum; Wau, with weekly service to Khartoum; and Rumbek, also with weekly flights to Khartoum. Southern Sudan Airlines also serves Nimule and Akobo, the airstrips of which are unpaved. There are several smaller airports throughout South Sudan, the majority of which consist of little more than dirt airstrips.
On 4 April 2012, plans were unveiled to launch a South Sudanese national airline, primarily for domestic service at first but eventually expanding to international service.[109]
Humanitarian situation[link]
See also: Health in South Sudan
South Sudan is acknowledged to have some of the worst health indicators in the world.[110][111][112] The under-five infant mortality rate is 135.3 per 1,000, whilst maternal mortality is the highest in the world at 2,053.9 per 100,000 live births.[112] In 2004, there were only three surgeons serving southern Sudan, with three proper hospitals, and in some areas there was just one doctor for every 500,000 people.[110]
The epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in the South Sudan is poorly documented but the prevalence is thought to be around 3.1%.[113]
At the time of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, humanitarian needs in Southern Sudan were massive. However, humanitarian organizations under the leadership of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) managed to ensure sufficient funding to bring relief to the local populations. Along with recovery and development aid, humanitarian projects were included in the 2007 Work Plan of the United Nations and partners. More than 90% of the population of South Sudan live on less than $1 a day, despite the GDP per capita of the entirety of Sudan being $1200 ($3.29/day).[114]
In 2007, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (under the leadership of Éliane Duthoit) decreased its involvement in Southern Sudan, as humanitarian needs gradually diminished, slowly but markedly turning over control to the recovery and development activities of NGOs and community-based organisations.[115]
Famine reportedly led to deaths in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap states in mid-2011, though the state governments of both denied hunger there was severe enough to cause fatalities.[116]
In Pibor County in Jonglei State in December 2011 and January 2012, cattle raids led to border clashes that eventually resulted in widespread ethnic violence, with thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of South Sudanese being displaced, and hundreds of Doctors without Borders staff went missing. The government declared the area a disaster zone and took control from local authorities.[117]
See also[link]
 |
Book: South Sudan |
| Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print. | |
- Cabinet of South Sudan
- International recognition of South Sudan
- Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan, the autonomous government that existed between 2005 and 2011.
- Southern Sudan Autonomous Region, the autonomous government that existed between 1972 and 1983.
- Lost Boys of Sudan
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- ^ Arnold, G. Book Review: Douglas H. Johnson, The Root Causes of Sudan's Civil Wars. African Journal of Political Science Vol.8 No. 1, 2003, p. 147.
- ^ Sudan: A Country Study Federal Research Division, Library of Congress – Chapter 2, Ethnicity, Regionalism and Ethnicity
- ^ Geographica. The Complete Illustrated Atlas of the world, 1999, p. 336
- ^ "More than 100 dead in south Sudan attack-officials" SABC News 21 September 2009 Retrieved 5 April 2011
- ^ Hurd, Emma "Southern Sudan Votes To Split From North" Sky News 8 February 2011 Retrieved 5 April 2011
- ^ "How many Anglicans are there in the Anglican Church in North America?"
- ^ World Christian Encyclopedia, eds. David Barrett, Geo. Kurian, Todd Johnson (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001), pp 699, 700
- ^ "South Sudan To Respect Freedom Of Religion Says GOSS President | Sudan Radio Service". Sudanradio.org. 21 February 2011. http://www.sudanradio.org/south-sudan-respect-freedom-religion-says-goss-president. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ Christianity, in A Country Study: Sudan, U.S. Library of Congress.
- ^ DiPiazza, Francesca (2006). Sudan in Pictures. 21st-century Books. p. 54. ISBN 0-8225-2678-6. Online version available at Google Books
- ^ a b World's newest nation set to step into sporting area – The Jakarta Globe. Written by Peter Martell. Published 6 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "South Sudan joins Fifa 10 months after independence". BBC News. 25 May 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18210048. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "S. Sudan team kicks off to a good start, then collapses". SKNVibes. 10 July 2011. http://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/33538. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ Elbagir, Nima; Karimi, Faith (9 July 2011). "South Sudanese celebrate the birth of their nation". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/07/09/sudan.new.nation/index.html. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "CIA World Factbook". CIA. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2111.html. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
- ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (9 July 2011). "After Years of Struggle, South Sudan Becomes a New Nation". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/world/africa/10sudan.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1310234502-5nvX4GUBg0fK28Wp4PYaEA.
- ^ a b c Hamilton, Rebecca "Awaiting Independence Vote, Southern Sudan Has High Hopes", Washington Post, 28 November 2010, via Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
- ^ Oil-Rich South Sudan Vincent Trivett; Published by businessinsider
- ^ Trivett, Vincent (8 July 2011). "Oil-Rich South Sudan Has Hours To Choose Between North Sudan, China And The U.S.". Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/southern-sudan-independence-2011-7. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "S.Sudan seeks food and farmland investments". Reuters. 2011-12-23. http://farmlandgrab.org/post/view/19806. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ Badawi, Ahmad (October 3, 2011). "A Greek Tragedy is Sudan’s Woe: Sudan Must be Relieved of Foreign Debt Quickly". African Arguments. http://africanarguments.org/2011/10/03/a-greek-tragedy-is-sudan%E2%80%99s-woe-sudan-should-be-relieved-of-foreign-debt-by-ahmed-badawi/.
- ^ Leo, Benjamin (2009). "Sudan Debt Dynamics: Status Quo, Southern Secession, Debt Division, and Oil – a Financial Framework for the Future". Center for Global Development. http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/1424644.
- ^ "Permanent Members". Paris Club. 2012. http://www.clubdeparis.org/sections/composition/membres-permanents-et/membres-permanents.
- ^ Ahmed, Medani (2008). "External Debts, Growth and Peace in the Sudan". CHR. Michelsen Institute. http://www.cmi.no/publications/file/3080-external-debts-growth-and-peace-in-the-sudan.pdf.
- ^ South Sudan gets new airline
- ^ goss-online.org - South Sudan set to have own national air carrier
- ^ a b Ross, Emma (28 January 2004). Southern Sudan has unique combination of worst diseases in the world. Sudan Tribune.
- ^ Moszynski, Peter (23 July 2005). Conference plans rebuilding of South Sudan's health service. BMJ.
- ^ a b "South Sudan Household Survey". South Sudan Medical Journal. December 2007. http://www.southernsudanmedicaljournal.com/assets/files/misc/SHHS.pdf.
- ^ Hakim, James (August 2009). "HIV/AIDS: an update on Epidemiology, Prevention and Treatment". South Sudan Medical Journal. http://www.southernsudanmedicaljournal.com/archive/2009-08/untitled-resource.html.
- ^ Ambler, Sean (10 January 2011). "Support freedom for Southern Sudan and fight for workers' unity against imperialism". League for the Fifth International. http://fifthinternational.org/content/support-freedom-southern-sudan-and-fight-workers-unity-against-imperialism. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
- ^ "SUDAN: Peace bolsters food security in the south". IRIN. 18 April 2007. http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=71676. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
- ^ "South Sudan’s N. Bahr el Ghazal denies reports that hunger caused death". Sudan Tribune. 17 August 2011. http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-s-N-Bahr-el-Ghazal,39863. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ Meldrum, Andrew (6 January 2012). "South Sudan News: Ethnic clashes must be solved in the long term". GlobalPost. http://web1.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/120105/south-sudan-news-ethnic-clashes-must-be-solved-long-term. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
Further reading[link]
- Biel, Melha Rout (2007). South Sudan after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Jena: Netzbandt Verlag. ISBN 978-3-937884-01-1.
- Tvedt, Terje (2004). South Sudan. An Annotated Bibliography. (2 vols) (2nd ed.). London/New York: IB Tauris. ISBN 1-86064-987-4.
- "Profile: Southern Sudan leader Salva Kiir". BBC Online. 5 January 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12107760. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
- No One to Intervene: Gaps in Civilian Protection in Southern Sudan. New York: Human Rights Watch. June 2009. http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/HRW_GapsCivlianProtection_SouthernSudan.pdf.
External links[link]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: South Sudan |
- Government of South Sudan
- Government of South Sudan – USA and UN Mission
- Government of South Sudan – UK Mission
- Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly
- South Sudan entry at The World Factbook
- "Sudan's Shaky Peace", National Geographic, November 2010
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http://cs.wn.com/Jižní Súdán
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is about the country. For the geographical region, see Sudan (region). For other uses, see Sudan (disambiguation).
| Republic of the Sudan جمهورية السودان Jumhūrīyat as-Sūdān |
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| Motto: النصر لنا "Victory is ours" |
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| Anthem: نحن جند الله جند الوطن "Nahnu Jund Allah Jund Al-watan" |
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 Location of Sudan (dark blue)
– in Africa (light blue & dark grey) |
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| Capital | Khartoum 15°38′N 032°32′E / 15.633°N 32.533°E / 15.633; 32.533 |
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| Largest city | Omdurman[1][2] | |||||
| Official language(s) | Arabic English |
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| Demonym | Sudanese | |||||
| Government | Federal presidential republic | |||||
| - | President | Omar al-Bashir (NCP) | ||||
| - | Vice President | Ali Osman Taha (NCP) Adam Yousef (NCP) |
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| Legislature | National Legislature | |||||
| - | Upper house | Council of States | ||||
| - | Lower house | National Assembly | ||||
| Establishment | ||||||
| - | Nubian kingdoms | 3500 BC | ||||
| - | Sennar dynasty | 1504[3] | ||||
| - | Unified with Egypt | 1821 | ||||
| - | Anglo-Egyptian Sudan | 1899 | ||||
| - | Independence | 1 January 1956 | ||||
| - | Current constitution | 9 January 2005 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 1,886,068 km2 (16th) 728,215 sq mi |
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| Population | ||||||
| - | 2008 census | 30,894,000 (disputed)[4] (40th) | ||||
| - | Density | 16.4/km2 42.4/sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2011 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $89.048 billion[5] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $2,495.902[5] | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2012 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $53.267 billion[5] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $2,496[5] | ||||
| HDI (2011) |  0.408[6] (low) (169th) |
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| Currency | Sudanese pound (SDG) |
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| Time zone | East Africa Time (UTC+3) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | Not observed (UTC+3) | ||||
| Date formats | dd/mm/yyyy | |||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| ISO 3166 code | SD | |||||
| Internet TLD | .sd | |||||
| Calling code | 249 | |||||
Sudan (i/suːˈdæn/ or /suːˈdɑːn/;[7] Arabic: السودان, as-Sūdān), officially the Republic of the Sudan[8] (Arabic: جمهورية السودان, Jumhūrīyat as-Sūdān), sometimes called North Sudan,[9][10][11] is an Arab state in North Africa (sometimes also considered to be part of the Middle East).[12] It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, and Libya to the northwest. The population of Sudan is a combination of indigenous inhabitants of Nile Valley, and descendants of migrants from the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the process of Arabisation common throughout the rest of the Arab World, today Arab culture predominates in Sudan. The majority of the population of Sudan adheres to Islam. The Nile divides the country between east and west sides.[13]
The people of Sudan have a long history extending from antiquity which is intertwined with the history of Egypt. Sudan suffered seventeen years of civil war during the First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972) followed by ethnic, religious and economic conflicts between the Muslim Arab northern Sudanese and the mostly animist and Christian Nilotes of Southern Sudan.[14][15] This led to the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1983. Because of continuing political and military struggles, Sudan was seized in a bloodless coup d'état by colonel Omar al-Bashir in 1989, who thereafter proclaimed himself President of Sudan.[16] The civil war ended with the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement which granted autonomy to what was then the southern region of the country. Following a referendum held in January 2011, South Sudan seceded on 9 July 2011 with the consent of Sudan's President al-Bashir.[17][18]
A member of the United Nations, Sudan also maintains membership with the African Union, the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as serving as an observer in the World Trade Organization.[19] Its capital is Khartoum, which serves as the political, cultural and commercial centre of the nation. Officially a federal presidential representative democratic republic, the politics of Sudan are widely considered by the international community to take place within an authoritarian system due to the control of the National Congress Party (NCP) of the judiciary, executive and legislative branches of government.[20]
Contents
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History[link]
Main article: History of Sudan
| History of Sudan | |
|---|---|
 This article is part of a series |
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| Chronological | |
| Early Sudan | |
| Coming of Islam | |
| Muhammad Ali dynasty | |
| The Mahdiyah | |
| Anglo-Egyptian rule | |
| Independent Sudan (since 1956) | |
| First Civil War (1955–1972) | |
| Nimeiri Era | |
| National Revolutionary Command Council | |
| Second Civil War (1983–2005) | |
| Transitional Military Council | |
| Coalition Governments and al-Bashir Era | |
| Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation | |
| Geographic | |
| Darfur | |
| Timeline | |
| Topical | |
| Economic history | |
| Military history | |
| Social history | |
|
Sudan Portal |
Kingdom of Kush[link]
The Kingdom of Kush was an ancient Nubian state centered on the confluences of the Blue Nile, White Nile and River Atbara. It was established after the Bronze Age collapse and the disintegration of the New Kingdom of Egypt, centered at Napata in its early phase. After King Kashta ("the Kushite") invaded Egypt in the 8th century BC, the Kushite kings ruled as Pharaohs of the Twenty-fifth dynasty of Egypt for a century before being defeated and driven out by the Assyrians. At the height of their glory, the Kushite conquered an empire that stretched from what is now known as South Kordofan all the way to Palestine. The Kingdom of Kush is mentioned in the Bible as having saved the Israelites from the wrath of the Assyrians. The war that took place between King Taharqa and the Assyrian King Sennacherib was a decisive event in western history. During Classical Antiquity, the Nubian capital was at Meroë. In early Greek geography, the Meroitic kingdom was known as Ethiopia. The civilization of Kush was among the first in the world to use iron smelting technology. The Nubian kingdom at Meroe persisted until the 4th century AD. After the collapse of the Kushite empire several states emerged in its former territories, among them Nubia.
Christianity and Islam (543–1821)[link]
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This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability. |
By the 6th century, fifty states had emerged as the political and cultural heirs of the Meroitic Kingdom. Nobatia in the north, also known as Ballanah, had its capital at Faras, in what is now Egypt; the central kingdom, Muqurra (Makuria), was centred at Dunqulah, about 13 kilometres (10 miles) south of modern Dunqulah; and Alawa (Alodia), in the heartland of old Meroe, which had its capital at Sawba (now a suburb of modern-day Khartoum). In all three kingdoms, warrior aristocracies ruled Meroitic populations from royal courts where functionaries bore Greek titles in emulation of the Byzantine court. A missionary sent by Byzantine empress Theodora arrived in Nobatia and started preaching Christianity about 540 AD. The Nubian kings became Monophysite Christians. However, Makuria was of the Melkite Christian faith, unlike Nobatia and Alodia.
After many attempts at military conquest failed, the Arab commander in Egypt concluded the first in a series of regularly renewed treaties known as Albaqut al-sharim (pactum) with the Nubians that governed relations between the two peoples for more than 678 years. Islam progressed in the area over a long period of time through intermarriage and contacts with Arab merchants and settlers, particularly the Sufi nobles of Arabia. Additionally, exemption from taxation in regions under Muslim rule were also a powerful incentive for conversion.[21] In 1093, a Muslim prince of Nubian royal blood ascended the throne of Dunqulah as king. The two most important Arab tribes to emerge in Nubia were the Jaali and the Juhayna. Today's northern Sudanese culture combines Nubian and Arabic elements.
During the 16th century, a people called the Funj, under a leader named Amara Dunqus, appeared in southern Nubia and supplanted the remnants of the old Christian kingdom of Alwa, establishing As-Saltana az-Zarqa (the Blue Sultanate), also called the Sultanate of Sennar. The Blue Sultanate eventually became the keystone of the Funj Empire. By the mid-16th century, Sennar controlled Al Jazirah and commanded the allegiance of vassal states and tribal districts north to the Third Cataract and south to the rainforests. The government was substantially weakened by a series of succession arguments and coups within the royal family. In 1820, Muhammad Ali of Egypt sent 4,000 troops to invade Sudan. His forces accepted Sennar's surrender from the last Funj sultan, Badi VII.
Egyptian Turks Period (1821–1885)[link]
Main articles: History of Sudan under Muhammad Ali and his successors and Mahdist War
In 1821, the Albanian-Ottoman ruler of Egypt, Amber Eck, had invaded and conquered northern Sudan. Although technically the Wāli of Egypt under the Ottoman Sultan, Muhammad Ali styled himself as Khedive of a virtually independent Egypt. Seeking to add Sudan to his domains, he sent his third son Ismail (not to be confused with Ismail the Magnificent mentioned later) to conquer the country, and subsequently incorporate it into Egypt. This policy was expanded and intensified by Ibrahim's son, Ismail I, under whose reign most of the remainder of modern-day Sudan was conquered. The Egyptian authorities made significant improvements to the Sudanese infrastructure (mainly in the north), especially with regard to irrigation and cotton production. In 1879, the Great Powers forced the removal of Ismail and established his son Tewfik I in his place. Tewfik's corruption and mismanagement resulted in the Orabi Revolt, which threatened the Khedive's survival. Tewfik appealed for help to the British, who subsequently occupied Egypt in 1882. Sudan was left in the hands of the Khedivial government, and the mismanagement and corruption of its officials.[22] During the 1870s, European initiatives against the slave trade caused an economic crisis in northern Sudan, precipitating the rise of Mahdist forces.[23]
Eventually, a revolt broke out in Sudan, led by Muhammad Ahmad ibn Abd Allah, the Mahdi (Guided One), who sought to end foreign presence in Sudan. Mahdi revolution succeed in January 1885. Later that year, the Mahdi's forces attacked and entered Khartoum[clarification needed], which had been defended by the British Governor-General, Charles George Gordon (also known as Gordon of Khartoum), who was killed. Egypt and Britain subsequently withdrew forces from Sudan leaving the Mahdi and his successor to form a 14 year rule of Sudan.
The Mahdist rule (1885–1899)[link]
Main article: History of Mahdist Sudan
Al Mahdi who set out from Aba Island with a few followers armed with sticks and spears ended by making himself master of almost all the territory formerly occupied by the Egyptian government. His main aim was to conquer Egypt and to follow his conquests by attacking Europe.
The Muslim religion was engrained in him. He offered to the ansars (his followers) and those who surrendered to him a choice between adopting Islam or be killed. The following proclamation was published by the Mahdi: Let all show penitence before God, and abandon all bad and forbidden habits, such as the use of wine and tobacco, lying, degrading acts of the flesh etc. All those who do not pay attention to these principles disobey God and his Prophet and they shall be punished in accordance with the law. These precepts were ferociously enforced. Flogging to death and the cutting off of the hands were the penalties for the most trivial offences.
During the month of Ramadan when absolute austerity was enforced upon his followers, huge crowds awaited the master’s appearance at prayers but they had little notion on what was going on inside the Mahdi’s house. There were several different accounts of his death. Some say that he was poisoned while others assert that typhus or small pox were the cause of his death. He died on 22 June 1885 exactly 5 months after the killing of Gordon.
After a power struggle amongst his deputies, Abdallahi ibn Muhammad, with the help primarily of the Baqqara Arabs of western Sudan, overcame the opposition of the others and emerged as unchallenged leader of the Mahdiyah. After consolidating his power, Abdallahi ibn Muhammad assumed the title of Khalifa (successor) of the Mahdi, instituted an administration, and appointed Ansar (who were usually Baqqara) as emirs over each of the several provinces.
Regional relations remained tense throughout much of the Mahdiyah period, largely because of the Khalifa's brutal methods to extend his rule throughout the country. In 1887, a 60,000-man Ansar army invaded Ethiopia, penetrating as far as Gondar. In March 1889, king Yohannes IV of Ethiopia, marched on Metemma; however, after Yohannes fell in battle, the Ethiopian forces withdrew. Abd ar Rahman an Nujumi, the Khalifa's general, attempted an invasion of Egypt in 1889, but British-led Egyptian troops defeated the Ansar at Tushkah. The failure of the Egyptian invasion broke the spell of the Ansar's invincibility. The Belgians prevented the Mahdi's men from conquering Equatoria, and in 1893, the Italians repelled an Ansar attack at Akordat (in Eritrea) and forced the Ansar to withdraw from Ethiopia.
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1899–1956)[link]
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This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability. |
Main article: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
In the 1890s, the British sought to re-establish their control over Sudan, once more officially in the name of the Egyptian Khedive, but in actuality treating the country as a British colony. By the early 1890s, British, French and Belgian claims had converged at the Nile headwaters. Britain feared that the other powers would take advantage of Sudan's instability to acquire territory previously annexed to Egypt. Apart from these political considerations, Britain wanted to establish control over the Nile to safeguard a planned irrigation dam at Aswan.
Lord Kitchener led military campaigns against the Mahdists from 1896 to 1898. Kitchener's campaigns culminated in a decisive victory in the Battle of Omdurman on 2 September 1898. Following this, in 1899, Britain and Egypt reached an agreement under which Sudan was run by a governor-general appointed by Egypt with British consent. In reality, much to the revulsion of Egyptian and Sudanese nationalists[citation needed], Sudan was effectively administered as a British colony. The British were keen to reverse the process, started under Muhammad Ali Pasha, of uniting the Nile Valley under Egyptian leadership, and sought to frustrate all efforts aimed at further uniting the two countries. During World War II, Sudan was directly involved militarily in the East African Campaign. Formed in 1925, the Sudan Defence Force (SDF) played an active part in responding to the early incursions (occupation by Italian troops of Kassala and other border areas) into the Sudan from Italian East Africa during 1940. In 1942, the SDF also played a part in the invasion of the Italian colony by British and Commonwealth forces. From 1924 until independence in 1956, the British had a policy of running Sudan as two essentially separate territories, the north (Muslim) and south (Christian). The last British Governor-General was Sir Robert Howe.
Independence and National Rule (1956–1989)[link]
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This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability. |
Main article: History of Sudan (1956–1969)
The continued British occupation of Sudan fueled an increasingly strident nationalist backlash in Egypt, with Egyptian nationalist leaders determined to force Britain to recognise a single independent union of Egypt and Sudan. With the formal end of Ottoman rule in 1914, Hussein Kamel was declared Sultan of Egypt and Sudan, as was his brother and successor Fuad I. They continued their insistence of a single Egyptian-Sudanese state even when the Sultanate was retitled as the Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan, but the British continued to frustrate such reaches for independence.
The Egyptian Revolution of 1952 finally heralded the beginning of the march towards Sudanese independence. Having abolished the monarchy in 1953, Egypt's new leaders, Muhammad Naguib, whose mother was Sudanese, and later Gamal Abdel-Nasser, believed the only way to end British domination in Sudan was for Egypt to officially abandon its claims of sovereignty over Sudan.
The British on the other hand continued their political and financial support for the Mahdi successor Sayyid Abdel Rahman who, they believed, could resist the Egyptian pressures for Sudanese independence. Rahman was able to resist the pressures, but his regime was plagued with political ineptitude, which garnered him a loss of support in northern and central Sudan. Egypt and Britain both sensed a great political instability forming, and opted to allow the Sudanese in the north and south to have a free vote on independence to see whether they wished for a British withdrawal.
In 1954, the governments of Egypt and Britain signed a treaty guaranteeing Sudanese independence[citation needed]. Afterwards, a polling process was carried out resulting in composition of a democratic parliament and Ismail al-Azhari was elected first Prime Minister and led the first modern Sudanese government.[24] On 1 January 1956, in a special ceremony held at the People's Palace, the Egyptian and British flags were lowered and the new Sudanese flag, composed of green, blue and white stripes, was raised in their place by the prime minister Ismail al-Azhari.
Military Coup d'état (1989–present)[link]
On 30 June 1989, colonel Omar al-Bashir led a group of army officers in ousting the unstable coalition government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi in a bloodless military coup.[16] Under al-Bashir's leadership, the new military government suspended political parties and introduced an Islamic legal code on the national level.[25] He then became Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (a newly established body with legislative and executive powers for what was described as a transitional period), and assumed the posts of chief of state, prime minister, chief of the armed forces, and minister of defense.[26] Subsequent to al-Bashir's promotion to the Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation, he allied himself with Hassan al-Turabi, the leader of the National Islamic Front (NIF), who along with al-Bashir began institutionalizing Sharia law in the northern part of Sudan. Further on, al-Bashir issued purges and executions in the upper ranks of the army, the banning of associations, political parties, and independent newspapers and the imprisonment of leading political figures and journalists.[27]
On 16 October 1993, al-Bashir's powers increased when he appointed himself President of the country, after which he disbanded the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation and all other rival political parties. The executive and legislative powers of the council were later given to al-Bashir completely.[28] In the 1996 national election, where he was the only candidate by law to run for election,[20] al-Bashir transformed Sudan into a single-party state and created the National Congress Party (NCP) with a new parliament and government obtained solely by members of the NCP.[29] During the 1990s, Hassan al-Turabi, then Speaker of the National Assembly, reached out to Islamic fundamentalist groups, as well as allowing them to operate out of Sudan, even personally inviting Osama bin Laden to the country.[30] The United States subsequently listed Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism[31] The U.S bombed Sudan in 1998 and U.S. firms were barred from doing business in Sudan. Further on, al-Turabi's influence and that of his party's "'internationalist' and ideological wing" waned "in favor of the 'nationalist' or more pragmatic leaders who focus on trying to recover from Sudan's disastrous international isolation and economic damage that resulted from ideological adventurism."[32] At the same time Sudan worked to appease the United States and other international critics by expelling members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and encouraging bin Laden to leave.[33] Prior to the 2000 presidential election, al-Turabi introduced a bill to reduce the President's powers, prompting al-Bashir to dissolve parliament and declare a state of emergency. After al-Turabi urged a boycott of the President's re-election campaign and signed an agreement with Sudan People's Liberation Army, Omar al-Bashir suspected they were plotting to overthrow him and the government,[34] thus jailing Hassan al-Turabi that same year.[35] Because of significant cultural, social, political, ethnic and economic changes in short amounts of time, conflicts were evolved in western and eastern provinces of Sudan in addition to an escalating conflict in Southern Sudan. Since the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), several violent struggles between the Janjaweed militia and rebel groups such as the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in the form of guerilla warfare in the Darfur, Red Sea and Equatoria regions have occurred. These conflicts have resulted in death tolls between 200,000[36] and 400,000,[19][37][38] over 2.5 million people being displaced[39] and diplomatic relations between Sudan and Chad being put under very great strain.[40]
The Sudanese government has supported the use of recruited Arab militias in guerrilla warfare, such as in the ongoing conflict in Darfur.[36][41] Since then thousands of people have been displaced and killed, and the need for humanitarian care in Darfur has attracted worldwide attention. The conflict has since been described as a genocide,[42] and the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two arrest warrants for al-Bashir, the current President of Sudan.[43][44]
Sudan has also been the subject of severe sanctions due to alleged ties with Egyptian Islamic Jihad and al-Qaeda.[30][31] Sudan has scored medium in human development in the last few years,[45] ranking number 150 in 2009, between Haiti and Tanzania. Statistics indicate that about seventeen percent of the population live on less than US $1.25 per day.[46] Among Sudan's population of 30 million people, Sunni Islam is the largest religion,[47] while Arabic and English are the official languages.[48]
Sudan has achieved great economic growth by implementing macroeconomic reforms. Rich in natural resources such as petroleum, Sudan's economy is amongst the fastest growing in the world.[49] The People's Republic of China and Japan are the main export partners of Sudan.[50]
Civil War and Secession of South Sudan[link]
In 1955, the year before independence, a civil war began between Northern and Southern Sudan. The southerners, anticipating independence, feared the new nation would be dominated by the north. Historically, the north of Sudan had closer ties with Egypt and was predominantly Arab or Arabized and Muslim while the south was predominantly non-Arabized and animist or Christian. These divisions had been further emphasized by the British policy of ruling the north and south under separate administrations. From 1924, it was illegal for people living north of the 10th parallel to go further south and for people south of the 8th parallel to go further north. The law was ostensibly enacted to prevent the spread of malaria and other tropical diseases that had ravaged British troops, as well as to facilitate spreading Christianity among the predominantly animist population while stopping the Arabic and Islamic influence from advancing south. The result was increased isolation between the already distinct north and south and arguably laid the seeds of conflict in the years to come.
The resulting conflict lasted from 1955 to 1972. The 1955 war began when Southern army officers mutinied and then formed the Anya-Nya guerilla movement. A few years later the first Sudanese military regime took power under Major-General Abboud. Military regimes continued into 1969 when General Gaafar Nimeiry led a successful coup.[51]
In 1972, a cessation of the north-south conflict was agreed upon under the terms of the Addis Ababa Agreement, following talks which were sponsored by the World Council of Churches. This led to a ten-year hiatus in the national conflict with the south enjoying self-government through the formation of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region.
In 1983, the civil war was reignited following President Gaafar Nimeiry's decision to circumvent the Addis Ababa Agreement[citation needed]. Nimeiry attempted to create a federated Sudan including states in southern Sudan, which violated the Addis Ababa Agreement that had granted the south considerable autonomy. He appointed a committee to undertake "a substantial review of the Addis Ababa Agreement, especially in the areas of security arrangements, border trade, language, culture and religion".[52] Mansour Khalid, a former foreign minister, wrote: “Nimeiri had never been genuinely committed to the principles of the Addis Ababa Agreement".[53] When asked about revisions he stated "The Addis Ababa agreement is myself and Joseph Lagu and we want it that way... I am 300 percent the constitution. I do not know of any plebiscite because I am mandated by the people as the President".[54] Southern troops rebelled against the northern political offensive, and launched attacks in June 1983.
In September 1983, the situation was exacerbated when Nimeiry's[clarification needed] culminated the 1977 revisions by imposing new Islamic laws on all of Sudan, including the non-Muslim south.
In 1995, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter negotiated the longest ceasefire in the history of the war to allow humanitarian aid to enter Southern Sudan, which had been inaccessible owing to violence.[55] This ceasefire, which lasted almost six months, has since been called the "Guinea Worm Ceasefire."[55] Since 1983, a combination of civil war and famine has taken the lives of nearly 2 million people in Sudan.[56] The war continued even after Nimeiry was ousted and a democratic government was elected with Al Sadiq Al Mahdi's Umma Party having the majority in the parliament. The leader of the SPLA John Garang refused to recognize the government and to negotiate with it as representative of Sudan but agreed to negotiate with government officials as representative of their political parties.[citation needed] The Sudanese Army successfully advanced in the south, reaching the southern borders with neighbouring Kenya and Uganda. The campaign started in 1989 and ended in 1994. During the fight the situation worsened in the tribal south causing casualties among the Christian and animist minority.[57] Rebel leader Riek Machar subsequently signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government and became Vice President of Sudan. His troops took part in the fight against the SPLA during the government offensive in the 1990s. After the Sudanese army took control of the entire south with the help of Machar, the situation improved. In time, however, the SPLA sought support in the West by using the northern Sudanese government's religious propaganda to portray the war as a campaign by the Arab Islamic government to impose Islam and the Arabic language on the animist and Christian south.
The war went on for more than twenty years, including the use of Russian-made combat helicopters and military cargo planes that were used as bombers to devastating effect on villages and tribal rebels alike. "Sudan's independent history has been dominated by chronic, exceptionally cruel warfare that has starkly divided the country on ethnic, religious, and regional grounds; displaced an estimated four million people (of a total estimated population of thirty-two million); and killed an estimated two million people."[58] It damaged Sudan's economy and led to food shortages, resulting in starvation and malnutrition. The lack of investment during this time, particularly in the south, meant a generation lost access to basic health services, education and jobs.
Peace talks between the southern rebels and the government made substantial progress in 2003 and early 2004. The peace was consolidated with the official signing by both sides of the Nairobi Comprehensive Peace Agreement on 9 January 2005, granting Southern Sudan autonomy for six years, to be followed by a referendum about independence. It created a co-vice president position and allowed the north and south to split oil deposits equally, but also left both the north's and south's armies in place. John Garang, the south's peace agreement appointed co-vice president, died in a helicopter crash on 1 August 2005, three weeks after being sworn in. This resulted in riots, but peace was eventually restored. The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) was established under the UN Security Council Resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005. Its mandate is to support implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and to perform functions relating to humanitarian assistance, and protection and promotion of human rights. In October 2007 the former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) withdrew from government in protest over slow implementation of a landmark 2005 peace deal which ended the civil war.
The referendum was negotiated under the auspices of Intergovernmental Organization Authority for Development IGAD, the regional organization of which Sudan is a member. Despite its role in finalizing the peace process, the debate around it increasingly became argumentative. According to a Wikileaks cable, the Khartoum Government along with the Egyptian government had been trying to delay or indefinitely adjourn the referendum. However, the southern leadership, the United Nations, and the whole region remained determined to hold vote as scheduled. As such, the vote continued. On 9 January 2011, the referendum was held worldwide; the South Sudanese diaspora who voted included those from the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Europe and East Africa. The result showed 98.9% in favour of secession.
The southern region became independent on 9 July 2011, with the name of South Sudan. Despite this result, many crucial issues are yet unresolved. The threats to people of South Sudan after referendum are numerous, with security topping the list. Other threats include disputes over the region of Abyei, control over oil fields, the borders, and the issue of citizenship.
As of April 23, 2012, Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan, has declared he is unwilling to negotiate with officials in South Sudan. After South Sudan took control of the territorially contested Heglig for 10 days, Sudan forces pushed them out of the oil town, to the south. Even after South Sudan's withdrawal from Heglig, Sudanese MiG 29 fighter planes dropped three bombs in South Sudan. With Sudanese attacks as far as 10km into South Sudan, South Sudanese officials cited this as both a "violation of the territory" and "clear provocation."[59] Hostility is inflating as both nations scramble to bulk up their military forces. President Bashir stated: "We will not negotiate with the South's government, because they don't understand anything but the language of the gun and ammunition...Our talks with them were with guns and bullets."[60]
Abyei situation[link]
The issue of Abyei is a grave matter in terms of bringing lasting peace to the country. According to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the region of Abyei must hold its own referendum, and decide whether to go with the south, or remain with Sudan. As such, the CPA set forth two referenda in Sudan, the South Sudan referendum as to whether to split from Sudan and the Abyei referendum as to whether to join South Sudan in its secession. Nevertheless, the voting in Abyei didn’t happen as stipulated largely because of the dispute over who has the right to vote in the region. Until now the referendum on Abyei is yet to be rescheduled, and the tension is rising in the region. The Government of Sudan is calling for all the residents of Abyei to take part in the referendum while the SPLA/M wants to exclude non-Dinka residents. Recently, the standing Abyei Committee has formed a new committee called the Joint Technical Committee to look at the case again, as well as the case of Kadugli.
Many humanitarian aid and relief services, such as the World Food Program, World Vision, Oxfam, Cordaid and Care International, have a large[ambiguous] presence in the area. Secession from Sudan will not necessarily solve the economic problems for Abyei. Further, the situation in Abyei is worsening in terms of security and dispute over land now that South Sudan has become independent.
Darfur conflict[link]
Main article: War in Darfur
Just as the long north-south civil war was reaching a resolution, some clashes occurred in the Muslim western region of Darfur in the early 1970s between the pastoral tribes. The rebels accused the central government of neglecting the Darfur region economically. Both the government and the rebels have been accused of atrocities in this war, although most of the blame has fallen on Arabic speaking nomads militias known as the Janjaweed, which are armed men appointed by the Al Saddiq Al Mahdi administration to stop the longstanding chaotic disputes between Darfur tribes. According to declarations by the U.S. government, these militias have been engaging in genocide, the UN and African Union does not agree with the genocide label; the fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of them seeking refuge in neighbouring Chad. The government claimed victory over the rebels after capturing a town on the border with Chad in early 1994. However, the fighting resumed in 2003.
On 9 September 2004, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell termed the Darfur conflict a genocide, claiming it as the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century.[61] There have been reports that the Janjaweed has been launching raids, bombings, and attacks on villages, killing civilians based on ethnicity, raping women, stealing land, goods, and herds of livestock. So far, over 2.5 million civilians have been displaced and the death toll is variously estimated from 200,000[36] to 400,000 killed.[41] These figures have remained stagnant since initial UN reports of the conflict hinted at genocide in 2003/2004. Genocide has been considered a criminal offense under international humanitarian law since the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.[62]
On 5 May 2006, the Sudanese government and Darfur's largest rebel group, the SLM (Sudanese Liberation Movement), signed the Darfur Peace Agreement, which aimed at ending the three-year-long conflict.[63] The agreement specified the disarmament of the Janjaweed and the disbandment of the rebel forces, and aimed at establishing a temporal government in which the rebels could take part.[64] The agreement, which was brokered by the African Union, however, was not signed by all of the rebel groups.[64] Only one rebel group, the SLA, led by Minni Arko Minnawi, signed the agreement.[65]
Since the agreement was signed, however, there have been reports of widespread violence throughout the region. A new rebel group has emerged called the National Redemption Front, which is made up of the four main rebel groups that refused to sign the May peace agreement.[66] Recently,[when?] both the Sudanese government and government-sponsored militias have launched large offensives against the rebel groups, resulting in more deaths and more displacements. Clashes among the rebel groups have also contributed to the violence.[66] Recent[when?] fighting along the Chad border has left hundreds of soldiers and rebel forces dead and nearly a quarter of a million refugees cut off from aid.[67] In addition, villages have been bombed and more civilians have been killed. UNICEF recently[when?] reported that around eighty infants die each day in Darfur as a result of malnutrition. The hunger in the Darfur region is still concerning many developed countries in the world.
The people in Darfur are predominantly non-Arabized members of the Darfur tribe who adhere to Islam. While the Janjaweed/Baggara militia is made up of Arabized indigenous Africans and few Arab Bedouin; the majority of other Arab groups in Darfur remain uninvolved in the conflict.[68]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has indicted State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmed Haroun and alleged Muslim Janjaweed militia leader Ali Mohammed Ali, also known as Ali Kosheib, in relation to the atrocities in the region. Ahmed Haroun belongs to the Bargou tribe, one of the non-Arab tribes of Darfur, and is alleged to have incited attacks on specific non-Arab ethnic groups. Ali Kosheib is a former soldier and a leader of the popular defense forces, and is alleged to be one of the key leaders responsible for attacks on villages in west Darfur.
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor on Darfur, Luis Moreno Ocampo, announced on 14 July 2008, ten criminal charges against Bashir, accusing him of sponsoring war crimes and crimes against humanity.[69] The ICC's prosecutors have claimed that al-Bashir "masterminded and implemented a plan to destroy in substantial part" three tribal groups in Darfur because of their ethnicity The Arab League, African Union, and France support Sudan's efforts to suspend the ICC investigation.[70] They are willing to consider Article 16 of the ICC's Rome Statute, which states ICC investigations can be suspended for one year if the investigation endangers the peace process.
Chad-Sudan conflict[link]
Main article: Civil war in Chad (2005–2010)
The Chad-Sudan Conflict (2005–2007) officially started on 23 December 2005, when the government of Chad declared a state of war with Sudan and called for the citizens of Chad to mobilize themselves against the "common enemy"[71]—the United Front for Democratic Change, a coalition of rebel factions dedicated to overthrowing Chadian President Idriss Déby (and who the Chadians believe are backed by the Sudanese government), and Sudanese janjawid, who have been raiding refugee camps and certain tribes in eastern Chad. Déby accuses Sudanese President Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir of trying to "destabilize our country, to drive our people into misery, to create disorder and export the war from Darfur to Chad."
The problem prompting the declaration of war was an attack on the Chadian town of Adré near the Sudanese border that led to the deaths of either one hundred rebels (as most news sources reported) or three hundred rebels. The Sudanese government was blamed for the attack, which was the second in the region in three days,[72] but Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman Jamal Mohammed Ibrahim denied any Sudanese involvement, "We are not for any escalation with Chad. We technically deny involvement in Chadian internal affairs." The Battle of Adré led to the declaration of war by Chad and the alleged deployment of the Chadian air force into Sudanese airspace, which the Chadian government denies.[73]
The leaders of Sudan and Chad signed an agreement in Saudi Arabia on 3 May 2007 to stop fighting from the Darfur conflict along their countries' 1,000-kilometre (600 mi) border.[74]
Eastern Front[link]
Main article: Eastern Front (Sudan)
The Eastern Front, whose chairman is the current presidential adviser Mr. Musa Mohamed Ahmed, was a coalition of rebel groups operating in eastern Sudan along the border with Eritrea, particularly the states of Red Sea and Kassala. While the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) was the primary member of the Eastern Front, the SPLA was obliged to leave by the January 2005 agreement that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War. Their place was taken in February 2004 after the merger of the larger Hausa and Beja Congress with the smaller Rashaida Free Lions, two tribal-based groups of the Arabized Beja and the Arab Rashaida people, respectively.[75]
Both the Free Lions and the Beja Congress stated that government inequity in the distribution of oil profits, and for the Beja the often uncompromising Arabization campaign of the central government, was the cause of their rebellion. They demanded to have a greater say in the composition of the national government, which has been seen as a destabilizing influence on the agreement ending the conflict in Southern Sudan.[citation needed]
The Eritrean government in mid-2006 dramatically changed its position on the conflict. From being the main supporter of the Eastern Front, it decided that bringing the Sudanese government around the negotiating table for a possible agreement with the rebels would be in its best interests.[citation needed]
It was successful in its attempts and on 19 June 2006, the two sides signed an agreement on declaration of principles.[76] This was the start of four months of Eritrean-mediated negotiations for a comprehensive peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the Eastern Front, which culminated in signing of a peace agreement on 14 October 2006, in Asmara. The agreement covers security issues, power sharing at a federal and regional level, and wealth sharing in regards to the three Eastern states Kassala, Red Sea and Al Qadarif.[citation needed] One of the agreements made between the Khartoum government and the Eastern Front was that Khartoum would push for international arbitration to solve the situation in the disputed Hala'ib Triangle which has been under Egyptian military annexation since 1995.
In July 2007, many areas of the country were devastated by flooding, prompting an immediate humanitarian response by the United Nations and partners, under the leadership of acting United Nations Resident Coordinators David Gressly and Oluseyi Bajulaiye.[77] Over 400,000 people were directly affected, with over 3.5 million at risk of epidemics.[78] The United Nations allocated US$ 13.5 million for the response from its pooled funds, and launched an appeal to the international community to cover the gap.[79] The humanitarian crisis is in danger of worsening. Following attacks in Darfur, the U.N. World Food Programme announced it could stop food aid to some parts of Darfur.[80] Banditry against truck convoys is one of the biggest problems, as it impedes the delivery of food assistance to war-stricken areas and forces a cut in monthly rations.
Government and politics[link]
Main articles: Politics of Sudan, List of Presidents of Sudan, List of Presidents of the Government of Southern Sudan, National Legislature of Sudan, List of Vice Presidents of Sudan, and List of political parties in Sudan
Officially, the politics of Sudan takes place in the framework of a federal presidential representative democratic republic, where the President of Sudan is head of state, head of government and commander-in-chief of the Sudan People's Armed Forces in a multi-party system. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the bicameral parliament — the National Legislature, with its National Assembly (lower chamber) and the Council of States (upper chamber). The judiciary is independent and obtained by the Constitutional Court.[19]
However, following the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005) and the now-low-scale war in Darfur, Sudan is widely recognized as an authoritarian state where all effective political power is obtained by President Omar al-Bashir and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). The political system of the Republic of Sudan was restructured following a military coup on 30 June 1989, when al-Bashir, then a colonel in the Sudanese Army, led a group of officers and ousted the government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi. Under al-Bashir's leadership, the new military government suspended political parties and introduced an Islamic legal code on the national level.[25]
He then became Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (a newly established body with legislative and executive powers for what was described as a transitional period), and assumed the posts of chief of state, prime minister, chief of the armed forces and minister of defense.[26] Further on, after institutionalizing Sharia law in the northern part of the country along with Hassan al-Turabi, al-Bashir issued purges and executions in the upper ranks of the army, the banning of associations, political parties, and independent newspapers and the imprisonment of leading political figures and journalists.[27]
In 1993, Sudan was transformed into an Islamic authoritarian single-party state as al-Bashir abolished the Revolutionary Command Council and created the National Islamic Front (NIF) with a new parliament and government obtained solely by members of the NIF. At the same time, the structure of regional administration was replaced by the creation of twenty-six states, each headed by a governor, thus making Sudan a federal republic. As a result, the Second Sudanese Civil War with the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) would only escalate in the following years.[34][35]
Following the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the government of al-Bashir and the SPLA, a government of national unity was installed in Sudan in accordance with the Interim Constitution whereby a co-Sudan Vice President position representing the south was created in addition to the northern Sudanese Vice President. This allowed the north and south to split oil deposits equally,[81] but also left both the north's and south's armies in place. Following the Darfur Peace Agreement in 2006, the office of senior presidential advisor was allocated to Minni Minnawi, a Zaghawa of the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA), and, thus, became the fourth-highest constitutional post.
Executive posts are divided between the NCP, the SPLA, the Sudanese Eastern Front and factions of the Umma Party and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). This peace agreement with the rebel group SPLA granted Southern Sudan autonomy for six years, to be followed by a referendum about independence in 2011.
According to the new 2005 constitution, the bicameral National Legislature is the official Sudanese parliament and is divided between two chambers — the National Assembly, a lower house with 450 seats, and the Council of States, an upper house with 50 seats. Thus the parliament consists of 500 appointed members altogether, where all are indirectly elected by state legislatures to serve six-year terms.[19]
Despite his international arrest warrant, al-Bashir was a candidate in the 2010 Sudanese presidential election, the first democratic election with multiple political parties participating in twenty-four years.[82] In the build-up to the vote, Sudanese pro-democracy activists say they faced intimidation by the government[83] and the International Crisis Group reported that the ruling party had gerrymandered electoral districts.[84] A few days before the vote, the main opposition candidate, Yasir Arman from the SPLM, withdrew from the race.[85] The U.S.-based Carter Center, which helped monitor the elections, described the vote tabulation process as "highly chaotic, non-transparent and vulnerable to electoral manipulation."[86] Al-Bashir was declared the winner of the election with sixty-eight percent of the vote.[82] There was considerable concern amongst the international community of a return to violence in the run-up to the January 2011 southern Sudan referendum, with post-referendum issues such as oil-revenue sharing and border demarcation not yet resolved.[87]
Foreign relations[link]
Main article: Foreign relations of Sudan
Sudan has had a troubled relationship with many of its neighbours and much of the international community, owing to what is viewed as its radical Islamic stance. For much of the 1990s, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia formed an ad-hoc alliance called the "Front Line States" with support from the United States to check the influence of the National Islamic Front government. The Sudanese Government supported anti-Ugandan rebel groups such as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). But in the early 1980s, at the time of President Gaafar Nimeiry, who took power on 25 May 1969, Sudan had a good relationship with the West. In early 1983, South Sudanese revolted against the government and formed the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) movement. Like many other African nationalist movements, SPLA was initially tied with Cuba, Russia, and other communist states. For this reason, the Khartoum government used the links effectively to woo Western states for support in its war against the SPLA. Nevertheless, the relationship was short-lived. In 1998, the Khartoum government was sanctioned for collaborating with terrorist organizations. From the mid-1990s, Sudan gradually began to moderate its positions as a result of increased U.S. pressure following the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings, in Tanzania and Kenya, and the new development of oil fields previously in rebel hands. Sudan also has a territorial dispute with Egypt over the Hala'ib Triangle. Since 2003, the foreign relations of Sudan have centred on the support for ending the Second Sudanese Civil War and condemnation of government support for militias in the war in Darfur.
Shortly after the Islamic Conservatists seized power in a coup in 1989, Sudan increasingly became a fundamentalist Islamic state. In addition, the National Islamic Front engaged in both regional and international terrorism. For example the NIF was accused of supporting Egyptian Jihad against former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. The assassination attempt against the Egyptian president was largely blamed on the Khartoum government. Sudan's relation with its eastern neighbour Eritrea was very rocky for the same reason. In December 1995, Eritrea accused Khartoum of supporting its Islamic rebels. As a result, Eritrea severed ties with the Khartoum government. Other neighboring countries such as Uganda and Chad have taken the same course. Hence, the National Islamic Front ultimately stands alone in the region. In 1990s, Al Qaeda leader bin-Laden joined the regime and Sudan became a safehaven for terrorism. As the National Islamic Front regime in Khartoum gradually emerged as a real threat to the region and the world, the U.S. began to list Sudan on its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. Before that, the Clinton administration bombed a Khartoum suspected site in 1998, known as Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory. The U.S. thought that the place was used for chemical weapons and thought it was connected with the Al Qaeda network. According to Bob Edward, the Secretary of State Warren Christopher has added Sudan to the list of countries that sponsor terrorist in the State Department. After the US listed Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism, the NIF decided to develop relations with Iraq, and later Iran, the two most controversial countries and Islamists states in the region: they were also in old with America. Accusations against the National Islam Front of Khartoum range from state sponsor terrorism to its affiliation with radical group such as Palestinian and Iranian regimes.
Sudan has extensive economic relations with China. China obtains ten percent of its oil from Sudan. According to a former Sudanese government minister, China is Sudan’s largest supplier of arms.[88]
On 23 December 2005, Sudan's neighbour to the west, Chad, declared war on Sudan and accused the country of being the "common enemy of the nation [Chad]." This happened after the 18 December attack on Adré, which left about one hundred people dead. A statement issued by Chadian government on 23 December accused Sudanese militias of making daily raids into Chad, thereby stealing cattle, killing people and burning villages on the Chadian border. The statement went on to call for Chadians to form a patriotic front against Sudan.[71]
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC, formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference) has called on Sudan and Chad to exercise self-restraint to defuse growing tensions between the two countries.[89] On 11 May 2008, Sudan announced it was cutting diplomatic relations with Chad, claiming that it was helping rebels in Darfur to attack the Sudanese capital Khartoum.[90]
On 27 December 2005, Sudan became one of the few states to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.[91]
On 20 June 2006, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir told reporters that he would not allow any UN peacekeeping force into Sudan. He denounced any such mission as "colonial forces."[92] On 17 November 2006, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced that "Sudan has agreed in principle to allow the establishment of a joint African Union and UN peacekeeping force in an effort to solve the crisis in Darfur" — but had stopped short of setting the number of troops involved. Annan speculated that this force could number 17,000.[93]
Despite this claim, no additional troops had been deployed as of late December 2006. On 31 July 2007, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1769, authorizing the deployment of UN forces.[94] Violence continued in the region and on 15 December 2006, prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) stated they would be proceeding with cases of human-rights violations against members of the Sudanese government.[95] A Sudanese legislator was quoted as saying that Khartoum may permit UN peacekeepers to patrol Darfur in exchange for immunity from prosecution for officials charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Armed forces[link]
Main article: Sudan People's Armed Forces
The Sudan People's Armed Forces is the regular forces of the Republic of Sudan and is divided into five branches; the Sudanese Army, Sudanese Navy (including the Marine Corps), Sudanese Air Force, Border Patrol and the Internal Affairs Defense Force, totalling about 200,000 troops. The military of Sudan has become a well-equipped fighting force, thanks to increasing local production of heavy and advanced arms. These forces are under the command of the National Assembly and its strategic principles include defending Sudan's external borders and preserve internal security.
However, since the Darfur crisis in 2004, safe-keeping the central government from the armed resistance and rebellion of paramilitary rebel groups such as the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have been important priorities. While not official, the Sudanese military also uses nomad militias, the most prominent being the Janjaweed, in executing a counter-insurgency war.[96] Somewhere between 200,000[36] and 400,000[19][37][38] people have died in the violent struggles.
International organizations in Sudan[link]
Most of the NGOs operating in Sudan are UN agents such as the World Food Program (WFP); the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO); the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); the United Nations Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO); the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF); the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); the United Nations Mine Service (UNMAS); the International Organization for Migration (IOM);[97] and the United Nations office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).[98]
Since Sudan has experienced civil war for many years, many NGOs (Nongovernmental Organizations) are involved in humanitarian efforts to help internally displaced people. Among the NGOs involved are CIDA, the Red Cross, The World Bank, and United Nations agents. The NGOs are working in every corner of Sudan especially in the southern part of the country. During the civil war, international nongovernmental organizations such as the Red Cross were operating mostly in the south, but based in the capital Khartoum.[99] The attention of NGOs shifted shortly after the war broke out in the western part of the Sudan known as Darfur. Nevertheless, the majority of NGOs are in southern Sudan. The most visible organization is Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS).[100]
Even though most of the international organizations are substantially concentrated in both South Sudan and Darfur region, some of them are working in northern part as well. For example the United Nations Industrial Development Organization is successfully operating in Khartoum, the capital. It is mainly funded by the European Union and recently opened more vocational training. There are about twelve different international nongovernmental organizations operating in Sudan. The Canadian International Development Agency CIDA is also operation largely in the northern Sudan.[101]
Legal system[link]
The legal system in Sudan is based on English common law and Islamic sharia. Islamic law was implemented in all of the north as of September 1983, by Jafar An-Numeri, the Second Sudanese Military Dictator; this applied to all residents of the Sudan regardless of their religion. The 2005 Naivasha Agreement, ending the civil war between north and south Sudan, established some protections for non-Muslims in Khartoum. International Court of Justice jurisdiction is accepted, though with reservations. Under the terms of the Naivasha Agreement, Islamic law did not apply in the south.[102] Since the secession of South Sudan there is some uncertainty as to whether Sharia law will now apply to the non-Muslim minorities present in Sudan, especially because of contradictory statements by al-Bashir on the matter.[103]
The judicial branch of the Sudanese government consists of a Constitutional Court of nine justices, the National Supreme Court and National Courts of Appeal, and other national courts; the National Judicial Service Commission provides overall management for the judiciary.
Human rights[link]
Main articles: Human rights in Sudan and Slavery in Sudan
Southern Sudan[link]
See also: Human rights in South Sudan
As early as 1995, international rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and CASMAS have reported that slavery in Sudan is a common fate of captives in the Second Sudanese Civil War and rebels fighting in the Sudan People's Liberation Army in connections to the war in Darfur, while the 2002 report issued by the International Eminent Persons Group, acting with the encouragement of the U.S. State Department, found the SPLA and pro-government militias guilty of abduction of civilians as well.[104]
While the Sudanese government denies these allegations, Rift Valley Institute's Sudan Abductee Database claim over 11,000 people were abducted in twenty years of slave-raiding in the southern regions,[105] while SudanActivism.com mentions that hundreds of thousands have been abducted into slavery, fled or are otherwise unaccounted for in a second genocide in southern Sudan.[106]
Although South Sudan proper became independent in July 2011, allegations of human rights abuses continue to dog the Sudanese government amidst its efforts to pacify rebellion in the southern state of South Kordofan.
According to the Annual Report 2011 of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint program FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) and OMCT (World Organisation Against Torture), in 2010–2011, in the run up to the referendum on Southern Sudan independence, repression intensified against all dissenting voices, largely conducted by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS). As in previous years, crackdown on human rights activists aimed at preventing any independent reporting on the human rights situation in Darfur continued, and humanitarian workers working in that region were subjected to further attacks and restrictions on freedom of movement. Journalists reporting on human rights violations also faced censorship and harassment. Human rights defenders promoting fair, transparent and free electoral processes and a number of women’s rights defenders were also targeted.[107]
Darfur[link]
A letter dated 14 August 2006, from the executive director of Human Rights Watch found that the Sudanese government is both incapable of protecting its own citizens in Darfur and unwilling to do so, and that its militias are guilty of crimes against humanity. The letter added that these human-rights abuses have existed since 2004.[108] Some reports attribute part of the violations to the rebels as well as the government and the Janjaweed. The U.S. State Department's human-rights report issued in March 2007 claims that "[a]ll parties to the conflagration committed serious abuses, including widespread killing of civilians, rape as a tool of war, systematic torture, robbery and recruitment of child soldiers."[109]
Both government forces and militias allied with the government are known to attack not only civilians in Darfur, but also humanitarian workers. Sympathizers of rebel groups are arbitrarily detained, as are foreign journalists, human-rights defenders, student activists and displaced people in and around Khartoum, some of whom face torture. The rebel groups have also been accused in a report issued by the U.S. government of attacking humanitarian workers and of killing innocent civilians.[110]
States and regions[link]
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Sudan is divided into seventeen states (wilayat, sing. wilayah). They are further divided into 133 districts.
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Regional bodies and areas of conflict[link]
In addition to the states, there also exist regional administrative bodies established by peace agreements between the central government and rebel groups.
Regional administrative bodies[link]
- The Darfur Regional Authority was established by the Darfur Peace Agreement to act as a co-ordinating body for the states that make up the region of Darfur.
- The Eastern Sudan States Coordinating Council was established by the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement between the Sudanese Government and the rebel Eastern Front to act as a coordinating body for the three eastern states.
- The Abyei Area, located on the border between Southern Sudan and the Republic of Sudan, currently has a special administrative status and is governed by an Abyei Area Administration. It was due to hold a referendum in 2011 on whether to join an independent South Sudan or remain part of the Republic of Sudan.
Disputed areas and zones of conflict[link]
- The states of South Kurdufan and Blue Nile are to hold "popular consultations" to determine their constitutional future within the Republic of Sudan.
- The Hala'ib triangle is disputed region between Sudan and Egypt. It is currently under Egyptian administration.
- The Abyei Area is disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan. It is currently under Sudan rule.
- Bir Tawil is a terra nullius occurring on the border between Egypt and Sudan, claimed by neither state.
- Kafia Kingi and Radom National Park was a part of Bahr el Ghazal in 1956.[111] The Republic of Sudan has recognized South Sudan independence according to the borders for January, 1st, 1956.[112]
Geography[link]
Main article: Geography of Sudan
See also: List of cities in Sudan
Sudan is situated in northern Africa, with a 853 km (530 mi) coastline bordering the Red Sea.[113] With an area of 1,886,068 km2 (728,215 sq mi), it is the third largest country on the continent (after Algeria and DR Congo) and the sixteenth largest in the world. Sudan lies mostly between latitudes 8° and 22°N (the Wadi Halfa Salient and disputed Hala'ib triangle are north of 22°), and longitudes 21° and 39°E.
The terrain is generally flat plains, broken by several mountain ranges; in the west the Deriba Caldera (3,042 m/9,980 ft), located in the Marrah Mountains, is the highest point in Sudan; in the east are the Red Sea Hills.[114]
The Blue and White Nile rivers meet in Khartoum to form the River Nile, which flows northwards through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. The Blue Nile's course through Sudan is nearly 800 km (497 mi) long and is joined by the Dinder and Rahad Rivers between Sennar and Khartoum. The White Nile within Sudan has no significant tributaries.
The amount of rainfall increases towards the south. In the north there is the very dry Nubian Desert; in the south there are swamps and rainforest. Sudan’s rainy season lasts for about three months (July to September) in the north, and up to six months (June to November) in the south. The dry regions are plagued by sandstorms, known as haboob, which can completely block out the sun. In the northern and western semi-desert areas, people rely on the scant rainfall for basic agriculture and many are nomadic, travelling with their herds of sheep and camels. Nearer the River Nile, there are well-irrigated farms growing cash crops.[115]
There are several dams on the Blue and White Niles. Among them are the Sennar and Roseires Dams on the Blue Nile, and the Jebel Aulia Dam on the White Nile. There is also Lake Nubia on the Sudanese-Egyptian border.
Rich mineral resources are available in Sudan including asbestos, chromite, cobalt, copper, gold, granite, gypsum, iron, kaolin, lead, manganese, mica, natural gas, nickel, petroleum, silver, tin, uranium and zinc.[116]
Desertification is a serious problem in Sudan.[117] There is also concern over soil erosion. Agricultural expansion, both public and private, has proceeded without conservation measures. The consequences have manifested themselves in the form of deforestation, soil desiccation, and the lowering of soil fertility and the water table.[118]
The nation's wildlife is threatened by hunting. As of 2001, twenty-one mammal species and nine bird species are endangered, as well as two species of plants. Endangered species include: the waldrapp, Northern White Rhinoceros, Tora Hartebeest, Slender-horned Gazelle, and hawksbill turtle. The Sahara oryx has become extinct in the wild.[119]
In May 2007, it was announced that hundreds of wild elephants had been located on a previously unknown, treeless island in the Sudd swampland region of southern Sudan. The exact location was being kept secret to protect the animals from poachers.[120]
Economy[link]
Main article: Economy of Sudan
See also: Communications in Sudan and Transport in Sudan
In 2010, Sudan was considered the 17th-fastest-growing economy[121] in the world and the rapid development of the country largely from oil profits even when facing international sanctions was noted by the The New York Times in a 2006 article.[122] Due to the secession of South Sudan, which contained over 80 percent of Sudan's oilfields, the economic forecast for Sudan in 2011 and beyond is uncertain.
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Even with the oil profits before the secession of South Sudan, Sudan still faced formidable economic problems, and its growth was still a rise from a very low level of per capita output. In any case, the economy in the Sudan has been slowly growing over the last ten years, and according to a World Bank report the overall growth in GDP in 2010 was 5.2 percent compared to 2009 growth of 4.2 percent.[123] This growth was sustained even during the crisis in Darfur and period of southern autonomy preceding South Sudan's independence.[124][125]
While historically agriculture remains the main source of income and employment hiring of over 80 percent of Sudanese, and makes up a third of the economic sector, oil production drove most of Sudan's post-2000 growth. Currently, the International Monetary Fund IMF is working hand in hand with Khartoum government to implement sound macroeconomic policies. The program has been in place since early 90s, and also work-out exchange rate and reserve of foreign exchange.[123] Since 1997, Sudan has been implementing the macroeconomic reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund.[citation needed]
In 1999, Sudan began exporting crude oil and in the last quarter of 1999, recorded its first trade surplus. Increased oil production (the current[when?] production is about 520,000 barrels per day (83,000 m3/d)) revived light industry, and expanded export processing zones helped sustain gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 6.1 percent in 2003. These gains, along with improvements to monetary policy, have stabilized the exchange rate. The People's Republic of China is Sudan's largest economic partner, with a 40 percent share in its oil.[126] The country also sells Sudan small arms, which have been used in military operations such as the conflicts in Darfur and South Kordofan.[127]
Oil was Sudan's main export, with production increasing dramatically during the late 2000s, in the years before South Sudan gained independence in July 2011. With rising oil revenues, the Sudanese economy was booming, with a growth rate of about nine percent in 2007. Sustained growth was expected the next year in 2008 due to not only increasing oil production, but also to the boost of hydroelectricity (annual electricity yield of 5.5 TWh) provided by the Merowe Dam. The independence of oil-rich South Sudan, however, placed most major oilfields out of the Sudanese government's direct control. In order to export oil, South Sudan must rely on a pipeline to Port Sudan on Sudan's Red Sea coast, as South Sudan itself is landlocked, as well as on Sudan's superior refinery infrastructure. The exact terms of a revenue-splitting agreement between Juba and Khartoum have yet to be established, but Sudan will likely receive a significant portion of the income from South Sudan's oil sales as a fee for the use of Sudanese pipelines, refineries, and port facilities, perhaps as much as 50 percent of the profits.[128]
Agriculture production remains Sudan's most-important sector, employing eighty percent of the workforce and contributing thirty-nine percent of GDP, but most farms remain rain-fed and susceptible to drought. Instability, adverse weather and weak world-agricultural prices ensures that much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years.
The Merowe Dam, also known as Merowe Multi-Purpose Hydro Project or Hamdab Dam, is a large construction project in Northern Sudan, about 350 kilometres (220 mi) north of the capital, Khartoum. It is situated on the River Nile, close to the Fourth Cataract where the river divides into multiple smaller branches with large islands in between. Merowe is a city about 40 kilometres (25 mi) downstream from the dam's construction site.
The main purpose of the dam will be the generation of electricity. Its dimensions make it the largest contemporary hydropower project in Africa. The construction of the dam was finished December 2008, supplying more than ninety percent of the population with electricity. Other gas-powered generating stations are operational in Khartoum State and other States.
Demographics[link]
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Main article: Demographics of Sudan
In Sudan's 2008 census, the population of Northern, Western and Eastern Sudan was recorded to be over 30 million.[129] This puts present estimates of the population of Sudan after the secession of South Sudan at a little over 30 million people. This is a significant increase over the past two decades as the 1983 census put the total population of Sudan, including present-day South Sudan, at 21.6 million.[130] The population of metropolitan Khartoum (including Khartoum, Omdurman, and Khartoum North) is growing rapidly and was recorded to be 5.2 million.
Despite being a refugee-generating country, Sudan also hosts a refugee population. According to the World Refugee Survey 2008, published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, 310,500 refugees and asylum seekers lived in Sudan in 2007. The majority of this population came from Eritrea (240,400 persons), Chad (45,000), Ethiopia (49,300) and the Central African Republic (2,500).[131] The Sudanese government UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 2007 forcibly deported at least 1,500 refugees and asylum seekers during the year. Sudan is a party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.[131]
Ethnic groups[link]
Ethnic groups in Sudan are: Arabs 70%, others being Arabized ethnic groups of Nubians, Copts, and Beja.[132] Sudan has 597 tribes that speak over 400 different languages and dialects[133] Sudanese Arabs are by far the largest ethnic group in Sudan, they are almost entirely Muslims; while the majority speak Sudanese Arabic; some other Arab tribes speak different Arabic dialects like Awadia and Fadnia and Bani Arak tribes who speak Najdi Arabic; Bani Hassan, Al-Ashraf, Zbid and Rashaida who speak Hejazi Arabic. In addition, Arabized Western province tribes like the Baggara and, most notably, the Darfurians, both who speak Chadian Arabic and are mostly Arabized are rarely included due to cultural, linguistic and genealogical variations with other Arab and Arabized tribes.[134] Sudanese Arabs of Northern and Eastern parts descend primarily from migrants from the Arabian peninsula and some of the pre-existing indigenous populations of Sudan, most predominately the Nubian people who also share a common history with Egypt. Additionally, a few pre-Islamic Arabian tribes existed in Sudan from earlier migrations into the region from Western Arabia, although most Arabs in Sudan are dated from migrations after the 12th century.[135] The vast majority of Arab tribes in Sudan migrated into the Sudan in the 12th century, intermarried with the indigenous African populations and introduced Islam.[136]
In common with much of the rest of the Arab world, the gradual process of Arabization in Sudan following these Arabian migrations after the 12th century led to the predominance of the Arabic language and aspects of Arab culture,[137] leading to the shift among a majority of Sudanese today to an Arab ethnic identity. This process was furthered both by the spread of Islam and an emigration to Sudan of genealogical Arabs from the Arabian Peninsula, and their intermarriage with the Arabized indigenous peoples of the country.
Sudan consists of numerous other Arab tribes such as the Shaigya, Ja'alin, Shukria, Rashaida, Bedouins, Arakieen and many more, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt said that the true Ja'alin from the eastern desert of Sudan are exactly like the Bedouin of eastern Arabia.[136]
Religion[link]
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Main article: Religion in Sudan
Further information: Islam in Sudan and Christianity in Sudan
97 percent of the population adheres to Sunni Islam (estimate after the secession of South Sudan).[138] while the remainder of the population follows either animist and indigenous beliefs or Christianity. Islam predominates in Sudan, though a few adherents to Christianity and traditional animist indigenous beliefs are present in Khartoum and in southern regions of the country bordering South Sudan. Almost all Muslims are Sunni, although there are significant distinctions between followers of different Sunni traditions. Two popular divisions, the Ansar and the Khatmia, are associated with the opposition Umma and Democratic Unionist Parties, respectively.
Christians in Sudan belong to various churches including the Roman Catholic Church, small Melkite and Maronite communities in the north, as well as Anglicans followers in the Episcopal Church of Sudan and the recently formed Reformed Episcopal Church. There are significant but long-established groups of Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Christians in Khartoum and other northern cities.
There are also Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox communities in Khartoum and eastern Sudan, largely made up of refugees and migrants from the past few decades. Other Christian groups with smaller followings in the country include the Africa Inland Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Sudan Church of Christ, the Sudan Interior Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Sudan Pentecostal Church, the Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church (in the North), and the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Sudan. In January 2010, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gained its first official presence in Sudan, opening its first branch in the south of the country.[139][unreliable source?]
Many Christians in the north are descended from pre-Islamic era communities or are trading families that immigrated from Egypt or the Near East before Sudan's independence in 1956.
Religious identity plays a role in the country's political divisions. Northern and western Muslims have dominated the country's political and economic system since independence. The NCP draws much of its support from Islamists, Salafis/Wahhabis and other conservative Arab Muslims in the north. The Umma Party has traditionally attracted Arab followers of the Ansar sect of Sufism as well as non-Arab Muslims from Darfur and Kordofan.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) includes both Arab and non-Arab Muslims in the north and east, especially those in the Khatmia Sufi sect, as well as some northern Arabic-speaking Christians. Southern Christians generally support the SPLM or one of the smaller southern parties.[140]
Tribes of Sudan[link]
|
|
| People | Location |
|---|---|
| Fula (Fulani) | Blue Nile, East and West |
| Rashaida | east |
| Fur | west |
| Bari | south |
Languages[link]
See also: Languages of Sudan
According to Ethnologue, the total number of languages used or spoken in Sudan is 142.[141] Of those, 133 are currently spoken and 9 languages are extinct.
The most used languages are:
- Arabic in all Sudan, along with the tribal languages.
- Sudanese Arabic.
- Najdi and Hejazi Arabic, (mainly in mid-north and mid-east regions).
- Chadic Arabic in western region, (mainly spoken by Baggara and various Arabized African tribes).
- Nubian language in far north, (mainly spoken by Nubians of Mahas, Dongola and Halfa).
- Beja language knows as Bedawit in far east alongside Red sea, (mainly spoken by Beja of Hadandawa, Ababda and Bisharin).
Before 2005, only Arabic was the official language.[142] In the 2005 constitution, Sudan's official languages became Arabic and English:[143]
Article 8:
- All indigenous languages of Sudan are national languages and shall be respected, developed and promoted.
- Arabic is a widely spoken national language in Sudan.
- Arabic, as a major language at the national level and English shall be the official working languages of the national government and the languages of instruction for higher education.
- In addition to Arabic and English, the legislature of any sub-national level of government may adopt any other national language as an additional official working language at its level.
- There shall be no discrimination against the use of either Arabic or English at any level of government or stage of education.
Culture[link]
![[icon]](http://web.archive.org./web/20130110033943/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} |
This section requires expansion. |
Main article: Culture of Sudan
Education[link]
Main article: Education in Sudan
Institutions of higher education in Sudan include:
|
|
See also[link]
|
Book: Sudan |
| Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print. | |
- Outline of Sudan
- John Garang
- Group of 77
- Nubia
- Sennar (sultanate)
- Alodia
- Maahes
- Meroitic script
- List of heads of government of Sudan
- Sudan Scouts Association
- Sudanese American
- Sudanese Australian
- Sudanese in the United Kingdom
- Sudanese refugees in Egypt
Notes[link]
- ^ "Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants: latest available year, 1990–2009". Demographic Yearbook 2009 – 2010. United Nations. 2011. pp. 288–289. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/2000_round.htm. Retrieved 12 May 2012. (Table 8)
- ^ "Sudan: States, Major Cities, Towns & Agglomeration – Statistics & Maps on City Population". City Population. 2011. http://www.citypopulation.de/Sudan.html. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ Rayah, Mubarak B. (1978). Sudan civilization. Democratic Republic of the Sudan, Ministry of Culture and Information. p. 64.
- ^ "Discontent over Sudan census". News24. 21 May 2009. http://www.news24.com/World/News/Discontent-over-Sudan-census-20090521. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Sudan". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=62&pr.y=8&sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=732&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ "Human Development Report 2011". United Nations. http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Table1.pdf. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ^ "Sudan". Oxford English Dictionary. 1989. http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/193455. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Sudan". CIA World Factbook. 2011. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/su.html. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "North Sudan launches new currency into economically troubled waters". Al Bawaba. 25 July 2011. http://www.albawaba.com/north-sudan-launches-new-currency-economically-troubled-waters-384581. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ "Church Building in North Sudan in Ruins as Hostilities Grow". Compass Direct. 23 August 2011. http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/sudan/article_116757.html. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ "North Sudan". Chr. Michelsen Institute. http://www.cmi.no/sudan/?id=50&North-Sudan. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ Davison, Roderic H. (1960). "Where is the Middle East?". Foreign Affairs 38 (4): 665–675. DOI:10.2307/20029452.
- ^ Collins, Robert O (2008). A History of Modern Sudan. Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, United Kingdom; New York City). ISBN 978-0-521-85820-5.
- ^ Shami, Seteney Khalid; Herrera, Linda (1999). Between Field and Text, "Ethical Dilemmas of Research Among Sudanese in Egypt: Producing Knowledge about the Public and the Private" by Anita Hausermann Fabos. American University in Cairo Press (Cairo). p. 100. ISBN 978–977–424–548–0.
- ^ United Nations Environment Programme (2007). Sudan — Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment. United Nations Environment Programme (Nairobi). p. 35. ISBN 978-92-807-2702-9.
- ^ a b Staff writer (14 July 2008). "Factbox — Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL1435274220080714. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ McDoom, Opheera (7 February 2011). "South Sudan votes for independence by landslide". Reuters.uk.reuters.com. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/07/uk-sudan-referendum-idUKTRE7161MW20110207. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ Fick, Maggie (9 July 2011). "A new flag raised: South Sudan celebrates birth". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/a-new-flag-raised-1004971.html. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d e U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. "The World Factbook: Sudan". ISSN 1553-8133. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/su.html. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ a b The New York Times. 16 March 1996. p. 4.
- ^ Metz, Helen C. (1991). Sudan: a Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress. pp. "The Coming of Islam". http://countrystudies.us/sudan/6.htm.
- ^ Churchill, W.S. (1899). The River War. Chapter 1. See also, von Slatin, Rudolf Carl (Slatin Pasha) (1898). Fire and Sword in the Sudan.
- ^ Domke, D. Michelle (November 1997). "ICE Case Studies; Case Number: 3; Case Identifier: Sudan; Case Name: Civil War in the Sudan: Resources or Religion?". Inventory of Conflict and Environment (via the School of International Service at the American University). http://www.american.edu/ted/ice/sudan.htm. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Brief Histoy of the Sudan. Sudan Embassy in London
- ^ a b Bekele, Yilma (12 July 2008). "Chickens Are Coming Home To Roost!". Ethiopian Review. http://www.ethiopianreview.com/content/2929. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ a b Cowell, Alan (30 June 1989). "Military Coup in Sudan Ousts Civilian Regime". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DA103DF932A35754C0A96F948260. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ a b Kepel. Jihad (2002). p. 181.
- ^ Walker, Peter (14 July 2008). "Profile: Omar al-Bashir". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/14/sudan.warcrimes3. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (undated). "History of the Sudan". HistoryWorld. http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=aa86. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ a b Shahzad, Syed Saleem (23 February 2002). "Bin Laden Uses Iraq To Plot New Attacks". Asia Times Online. http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/DB23Ag02.html. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ a b Staff writer (13 March 2007). "Families of USS Cole Victims Sue Sudan for $105 Million". Associated Press (via Fox News). Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ Graham E. Fuller The Future of Political Islam (2004). Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 1-4039-6556-0, p. 111.
- ^ Lawrence Wright The Looming Tower (2006). pp. 221–223. ISBN 1-60514-079-1
- ^ a b Staff writer (25 November 2003). "Profile: Sudan's President Bashir". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3273569.stm. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ a b Ali, Wasil (12 May 2008). "Sudanese Islamist Opposition Leader Denies Link with Darfur Rebels". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d Staff writer (23 February 2010). "Q&A: Sudan's Darfur Conflict". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ a b Staff writer (28 November 2005). "Darfur Peace Talks To Resume in Abuja on Tuesday: AU". Xinhua News Agency (via People's Daily). http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200511/28/eng20051128_224254.html. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ a b Staff writer (11 April 2007). "Hundreds Killed in Attacks in Eastern Chad — U.N. Agency Says Sudanese Militia Destroyed Villages". Associated Press (via The Washington Post). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/10/AR2007041001775.html. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ de Montesquiou, Alfred (16 October 2006). "AUF Ineffective, Complain Refugees in Darfur". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/15/AR2006101500655.html. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
- ^ Staff writer (11 May 2008). "Sudan Cuts Chad Ties over Attack". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7394422.stm. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ a b Staff writer (June 2008). "The Genocide in Darfur — Briefing Paper". Save Darfur Coalition. http://www.savedarfur.org/pages/background. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Press release (14 July 2008). "ICC Prosecutor Presents Case Against Sudanese President, Hassan Ahmad al Bashir, for Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes in Darfur". Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (4 March 2009). Warrant issued for Sudan's Bashir". BBC News. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ Lynch, Colum; Hamilton, Rebecca (13 July 2010). "International Criminal Court Charges Sudan's Omar Hassan al-Bashir with Genocide". The Washington Post (via the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting). http://pulitzercenter.org/articles/international-criminal-court-charges-sudans-omar-hassan-al-bashir-genocide. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ Human Development Report 2009. Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Palgrave Macmillan. New York. ISBN 978-0-230-23904-3
- ^ Acronyms and abbreviations. undp.org. 2008
- ^ Staff writer (27 December 2010). "Sudan". The World Factbook. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 8 January 2011. ISSN 1553-8133. "Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), Christian 5% (mostly in the south and Khartoum), indigenous beliefs 25%."
- ^ Staff writer (undated). "Arabic, Sudanese Spoken — A Language of Sudan". Ethnologue. http://www.ethnologue.org/show_language.asp?code=apd. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ (Registration required) "War in Sudan? Not Where the Oil Wealth Flows". The New York Times. 24 October 2006.
- ^ Staff writer (10 February 2010). "Import and Export Snapshot for Sudan". Afribiz.info. http://www.afribiz.info/?p=2924. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Mitchell, Christopher R. (August 1989) Conflict Resolution and Civil War: Reflections on the Sudanese Settlement of 1972. (PDF). Center for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University.
- ^ Alier, Abel (1990). Southern Sudan: Too Many Agreements Dishonored. Ithaca Press (Exeter). pg. 213. ISBN 978-0-86372-120-5.
- ^ Khalid, Mansour (1985). Nimeiri and the Revolution of Dis-May. Routledge and Paul Regan (London). pp. 234, 239.
- ^ Ali, Taiser; Matthews, Robert O.; Spears, Ian S. (2004). Durable Peace: Challenges for Peacebuilding in Africa. University of Toronto Press (Toronto). pg. 293. ISBN 978-0-8020-3614-8.
- ^ a b Staff writer (undated). "Sudan". The Carter Center. http://www.cartercenter.org/countries/sudan.html. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (April 2001). "Sudan: Nearly 2 Million Dead as a Result of the World's Longest Running Civil War". U.S. Committee for Refugees. Archived 10 December 2004 on the Internet Archive. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Dange, Ted (August 2002). Sudan: Humanitarian Crisis, Peace Talks, Terrorism, and U.S. Policy. Issue Brief for the U.S. Congress. Defense Technical Information Center (Fort Belvoir). OCLC 318680796.
- ^ Morrison, J. Stephen; de Waal, Alex. "Can Sudan Escape Its Intractability?". Grasping the Nettle: Analyzing Cases of Intractable Conflict. Eds.: Crocker, Chester A.; Hampson, Fen Osler; Aall, Pamel (2005). United States Institute of Peace (Washington, D.C.). p. 162.
- ^ http://allafrica.com/stories/201204240427.html
- ^ http://allafrica.com/stories/201204240427.html
- ^ Slavin, Barbara (9 September 2004). "Powell Accuses Sudan of Genocide". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-09-09-sudan-powell_x.htm. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (April 2008). "IHL Primer #2 — Genocide". International Humanitarian Law Research Initiative of the Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research at Harvard University. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Darfur Peace Agreement. US Department of State. 8 May 2006
- ^ a b Staff writer (5 May 2006). "Main Parties Sign Darfur Accord". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4978668.stm. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "Darfur Peace Agreement" – Fact Sheet. Office of the Spokesman. U.S. Department of State. May 2006.
- ^ a b Steele, Jonathan (11 October 2006). "Khartoum Struggles To Defeat New Alliance — Sudanese Troops Have Suffered Heavy Casualties in Intense Fighting with Their New Enemy, the National Redemption Front, Reports Jonathan Steele from El Fasher". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/sudan/story/0,,1893427,00.html. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (11 October 2006). "Heavy Fighting Breaks Out". strategypage.com. http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/sudan/articles/20061011.aspx. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ de Waal, Alex (25 July 2004). "Darfur's Deep Grievances Defy All Hopes for An Easy Solution — The World Is Waking to the Human Disaster in Sudan. But, Argues Writer and World Authority on the Country, Alex de Waal, the Crisis Is Far More Complex Than Some Claim – and Cannot Be Resolved by a Quick Fix". The Observer (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2004/jul/25/internationalaidanddevelopment.voluntarysector. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Walker, Peter; Sturcke, James (14 July 2008). "Darfur Genocide Charges for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/14/sudan.warcrimes1?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ Charbonneau, Louis (18 September 2008). "France Might Be Open To Deal on Sudan's Bashir". Reuters. 18 September 2006
- ^ a b Hancock, Stephanie (23 December 2005). "Chad in 'State of War' with Sudan". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4556576.stm. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (20 December 2005). "Chad Fightback 'Kills 300 Rebels'". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4544352.stm. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (27 December 2005). "Restraint Plea to Sudan and Chad". Agence France-Presse (via Al Jazeera English). Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080312113422/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AB24F0A9-8145-4E1E-96C7-3D8FC9641CC6.htm. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "Sudan, Chad Agree To Stop Fighting". Associated Press (via Yahoo! News).
- ^ "UNMIS Media Monitoring Report, 19 January 2006 (By Public Information Office)". United Nations Mission in Sudan.
- ^ Staff writer (3 July 2006). "Sudanese Government and East Sudan Front Sign Document on Action Program Regarding the Signing of Security and Military Agreement". Eritrean Ministry of Information. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060719151254/http://www.shabait.com/staging/publish/article_005181.html. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ [dead link] "United Nations Concerned That Floods Emergency May Worsen". International Herald Tribune. 6 August 2007. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/06/africa/AF-GEN-Sudan-Floods.php.
- ^ Press release (6 August 2007). "Sudan Floods: At Least 365,000 Directly Affected, Response Ongoing". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (via Relief Web). http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/LSGZ-75TGFJ?OpenDocument. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Press release (16 August 2007). "United Nations To Launch Appeal for Sudan Floods". Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (via Relief Web). http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EVOD-766JV2?OpenDocument. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Heavens, Andrew (7 September 2008). "UN Threatens To Halt Darfur Food Aid over Attacks". Reuters. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "Some Reflection on Upcoming Division of Sudan". Mohammad Mufti. 17 January 2011. http://www.mohammadmufti.com/2011/01/some-reflection-on-upcoming-division-of.html. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ a b Staff writer (26 April 2010). "President Omar al-Bashir Declared Winner of Sudan Poll". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8643602.stm. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Hamilton, Rebecca (13 August 2010). "In Challenge to Sudanese Ruling Party, Student Activists Rally for Democracy". The Washington Post (via the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting). http://pulitzercenter.org/articles/challenge-sudanese-ruling-party-student-activists-rally-democracy. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ Mazen, Maram (31 March 2010). "Sudan's Ruling Party Rigged Upcoming Vote, Crisis Group Says". Bloomberg Businessweek. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-31/sudan-s-ruling-party-rigged-upcoming-vote-crisis-group-says.html. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Butty, James (1 April 2010). "Yasir Arman's Sudan Expert Says Yasir Arman's Withdrawal from Election Significant — Fouad Hikmat of the International Crisis Group Says Arman Was Seen as One of the Candidates Who Would Compete with President Bashir". Voice of America. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Butty-Sudan-Elections-01march10-89668017.html. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ [dead link]"Chaotic Sudan Count Open to Manipulation — Observers". Reuters. 10 May 2010. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MCD043135.htm.
- ^ Hamilton, Rebecca (13 September 2010). "South Sudan Independence Vote at Risk". The Washington Post (via the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting). http://pulitzercenter.org/articles/Sudan-Referendum-Threatened-Oil-Borders. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Goodman, Peter S. (23 December 2004). "China Invests Heavily In Sudan's Oil Industry — Beijing Supplies Arms Used on Villagers". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (25 December 2005). "Call To Ease Sudan-Chad Tension". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4559254.stm. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (11 May 2008). "Sudan Cuts Chad Ties over Attack". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7394422.stm. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Sahara issue. Sudan supports Moroccan sovereignty over Southern Provinces. Morocco Times. 26 December 2005
- ^ Sudan won't allow U.N. force in Darfur. CNN. 20 June 2006
- ^ Glendinning, Lee (17 November 2006). "Sudan Agrees To Allow UN Troops in Darfur". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ UN Security Council: Resolution 1769, 31 July 2007.
- ^ Tran, Mark (15 December 2006). "Prosecutors Move Closer to Darfur Trial". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (undated). "Sudan: National Security". Mongabay. http://www.mongabay.com/reference/new_profiles/2007.html. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ IOM – Sudan. Iom.int. Retrieved on 4 October 2011.
- ^ The Sudans – CIDA. Acdi-cida.gc.ca (2011-08-16). Retrieved on 4 October 2011.
- ^ Sudan – Darfur – overview. UNICEF. Retrieved on 4 October 2011.
- ^ South Sudan, Nuba Mountains, May 2003 – WFP delivered food aid via road convoy | WFP | United Nations World Food Programme – Fighting Hunger Worldwide. WFP (2003-04-01). Retrieved on 4 October 2011.
- ^ EU, UNIDO set up Centre in Sudan to develop industrial skills, entrepreneurship for job creation. UNIDO. 8 February 2011
- ^ Staff writer (undated). "Field Listing — Legal System". CIA World Factbook. US Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2100.html. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ BBC News – Sharia law to be tightened if Sudan splits – president. Bbc.co.uk (2010-12-19). Retrieved on 4 October 2011.
- ^ Press release (22 May 2002). "Factfinding Report Confirms Sudan Slavery". Freedom House. http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=107. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (28 May 2003). "Thousands of Slaves in Sudan". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2942964.stm. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ Staff writer (undated). "The Sudan Genocide: An Overview". SudanActivism.com (part of American Anti-Slavery Group). Archived from the original on 18 November 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061118072856/http://www.sudanactivism.com/overview/index.html. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ http://www.fidh.org/-Sudan,211-?id_mot=813
- ^ [dead link] "Human Rights Watch Letter". Human Rights Watch. 14 August 2006. http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/08/14/sudan13973.htm. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ Staff writer (6 March 2007). "Darfur Tops U.S. List of Worst Human Rights Abuses". Associated Press (via USA Today). http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-03-06-human-rights_N.htm. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ [dead link] "Amnesty International | Working to Protect Human Rights". Amnesty International. 22 June 2010. http://web.amnesty.org/report2006/sdn-summary-eng. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ Page xii – Sudan administrative map (January, 1st, 1956). (PDF) . Retrieved on 28 November 2011.
- ^ South Sudan ready to declare independence. Menasborders.com (1956-01-01). Retrieved on 28 November 2011.
- ^ Sudan geography. Institute for Security Studies
- ^ "Country Studies". Country Studies. http://www.country-studies.com/sudan/geography.html. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ Staff writer (undated). "Sudan — Geography & Environment". Oxfam GB. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/world/sudan/sudgeog.htm. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Geography of Sudan. Sudan embassy website
- ^ Desertification & Desert Cultivation Studies Institute. University of Khartoum][dead link]
- ^ "Dept of Forestry, University of Khartoum". Unu.edu. http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80044e/80044E06.htm. Retrieved 26 June 2010. [dead link]
- ^ [unreliable source?] Staff writer (undated). "Sudan — Environment". Encyclopedia of the Nations. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Sudan-ENVIRONMENT.html. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ Wheeler, Skye (28 May 2007). "Elephant Herds Found on Isolated South Sudan Island". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL2827708220070528. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "Economy". 20 October 2009. http://www.goss-online.org/magnoliaPublic/en/about/economicalsummary.html. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
- ^ (Registration required) Gettleman, Jeffrey (24 October 2006). "War in Sudan? Not Where the Oil Wealth Flows". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/world/africa/24sudan.html. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
- ^ a b CIA – The World Factbook. Cia.gov. Retrieved on 4 October 2011.
- ^ "South Sudan Gets Ready for Independence". Al Jazeera. http://english.aljazeera.net/video/africa/2011/06/2011621161012959115.html. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ GETTLEMAN, JEFFREY (20 June 2011). "As Secession Nears, Sudan Steps Up Drive to Stop Rebels". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/world/africa/21sudan.html?ref=sudan. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ "The "Big 4" – How oil revenues are connected to Khartoum". Amnesty International USA. http://www.amnestyusa.org/Business_and_Human_Rights/The_Big_4/page.do?id=1081006&n1=3&n2=26. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ^ "Oil for China, Guns for Darfur". businessweek. http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/mar2008/gb20080314_430126.htm?chan=globalbiz_asia+index+page_economics+%2Bamp%3B+policy. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ^ Trivett, Vincent (8 July 2011). "Oil-Rich South Sudan Has Hours To Choose Between North Sudan, China And The U.S.". Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/southern-sudan-independence-2011-7. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ Heavens, Andrew (21 May 2009). Af.reuters.com (2009-05-21). Retrieved on 4 October 2011.
- ^ "Sudan – Population". Library of Congress Country Studies.
- ^ a b "World Refugee Survey 2008". U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. 19 June 2008. http://www.refugees.org/survey.
- ^ Copts migration
- ^ Bechtold, Peter R (1991). "More Turbulence in Sudan" in Sudan: State and Society in Crisis. ed. John Voll (Westview Press (Boulder)) p. 1.
- ^ The Darfur Conflict: Geography Or Institutions? By Osman Suliman, Mohamed Osman Suliman,P:115
- ^ http://www.almshaheer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3339
- ^ a b Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, JSTOR (Organization) (1888). Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 17. p. 16. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZSDBkKgNgx8C&pg=PA16&dq=jaalin#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ Hurtel, Elizabeth. "Photos of Suakin, on the Red Sea, photolibrary South-Images". South-images.com. http://www.south-images.com/photos-sudan.htm. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ Country info: Sudan
- ^ [unreliable source?]Matt (29 January 2010). "First Branch Created in Sudan". LDS Church Growth (blog at ldschurchgrowth.blogspot.com). http://ldschurchgrowth.blogspot.com/2010/01/first-branch-created-in-southern-sudan.html. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ "US State Department". State.gov. 1 January 2007. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90122.htm. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), Languages of Sudan, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th ed., Dallas: SIL International, 2005
- ^ Leclerc, Jacques. L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde, "Soudan"
- ^ text of the 2005 constitution in EnglishPDF (492 KB)
Bibliography[link]
Books
- Churchill, Winston (1899; 2000). The River War — An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan. Carroll & Graf Publishers (New York City). ISBN 978-0-7867-0751-5.
- Clammer, Paul (2005). Sudan — The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides (Chalfont St. Peter); Globe Pequot Press. (Guilford, Connecticut). ISBN 978-1-84162-114-2.
- Evans-Pritchard, Blake; Polese, Violetta (2008). Sudan — The City Trail Guide. City Trail Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9559274-0-9.
- El Mahdi, Mandour. (1965). A Short History of the Sudan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-913158-9.
- Fadlalla, Mohamed H. (2005). The Problem of Dar Fur, iUniverse (New York City). ISBN 978-0-595-36502-9.
- Fadlalla, Mohamed H. (2004). Short History Of Sudan. iUniverse (New York City). ISBN 978-0-595-31425-6.
- Fadlalla, Mohamed H. (2007). UN Intervention in Dar Fur, iUniverse (New York City). ISBN 978-0-595-42979-0.
- Jok, Jok Madut (2007). Sudan — Race, Religion and Violence. Oneworld Publications (Oxford). ISBN 978-1-85168-366-6.
- Mwakikagile, Godfrey (2001). Slavery in Mauritania and Sudan — The State Against Blacks, in The Modern African State — Quest for Transformation. Nova Science Publishers (Huntington, New York). ISBN 978-1-56072-936-5.
- O'Fahey, Rex Seán; Spauling, Jay Lloyd (1974). Kingdoms of the Sudan. Methuen Publishing (London). ISBN 978-0-416-77450-4. Covers Sennar and Darfur.
- Peterson, Scott (2001). Me Against My Brother — At War in Somalia, Sudan and Rwanda — A Journalist Reports from the Battlefields of Africa. Routledge (London; New York City). ISBN 978-0-203-90290-5.
- Prunier, Gérard (2005). Darfur — The Ambiguous Genocide. Cornell University Press (Ithaca, New York). ISBN 978-0-8014-4450-0.
- Welsby, Derek A. (2002). The Medieval Kingdoms of Nubia — Pagans, Christians and Muslims Along the Middle Nile. British Museum Press (London). ISBN 978-0-7141-1947-2.
- Zilfū, ʻIṣmat Ḥasan (translation: Clark, Peter) (1980). Karari — The Sudanese Account of the Battle of Omdurman. Frederick Warne & Co (London). ISBN 978-0-7232-2677-2.
Article
- "Quo Vadis bilad as-Sudan? The Contemporary Framework for a National Interim Constitution". Law in Africa (Cologne; 2005). Vol. 8, pp. 63–82. ISSN 1435-0963.
External links[link]
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- Government of Sudan official website
- President of Sudan
- Sudan web resources provided by GovPubs at the University of Colorado–Boulder Libraries
- Sudan at the Open Directory Project
- Wikimedia Atlas of Sudan
- Sudan travel guide from Wikitravel
- Sudan entry at The World Factbook
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This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
 Hughes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia June 2010 |
|
| Born | 1979 Liverpool |
Graham David Hughes (born 1979) is an adventurer, filmmaker, television presenter and Guinness World Records holder. He is currently presenting the television program “Graham’s World” on the National Geographic Adventure channel, a weekly look into his ongoing quest to break multiple world records by visiting every country on earth without flying.[1]
Contents |
Expeditions[link]
The Odyssey Expedition is a quest to drop in on every one of the 192 UN member states (plus eight assorted others, in the interest of a round number) without flying. The rules of his trip are: no flying, no private transport (a rule enforced by the Guinness World Records race regulations, which cannot condone a public race in private vehicles) and no travelling to far flung territories and counting them as visiting the motherland.[2]
While on The Odyssey Expedition, Hughes is helping raise funds and awareness for the charity WaterAid.[3]
World records[link]
He has set a new Guinness World Record by visiting "133 countries in one year by scheduled ground transport."[4]
He is set to hold the world record for visiting every UN member state and eight other countries to bring his total count to 200 visited states.Graham Hughes will be the first person to visit every country in one unbroken solo journey and he is still on course for the record for visiting every country in the world in the shortest amount of time, flying or single surface journey.
Television programs[link]
Graham's personal video log of his trip has been converted into a television series called “Graham’s World” on the National Geographic Adventure channel.[5] It is an 8 part series covering Graham's first year traveling to every country in the Americas, Europe and most of Africa from January 2009 - December 2009. Highlights of the trip included imprisonment in Congo, getting caught sneaking into Russia, and running the blockade into Cuba. He was arrested in Estonia and Cameroon and spent jail time in Congo[6] and Cape Verde.[7]
As of April 2012 he has visited 197 countries in the world, with 4 still left to complete.[8][9]
Film and music videos[link]
With his company, Hydra Studios, he has written and directed a number of short films and won the inaugural Liverpool 48 Hour Film Challenge in 2006. Hughes has worked for World Challenge Expeditions, producing several travel videos. He has also been heavily involved in the Liverpool music scene, shooting or producing videos for Hot Club De Paris, The Dead 60’s, The Basement, (We are) Performance, Peter And The Wolf, Lyons And Tigers, China Crisis, The Coral, The Real Kicks, The Sonic Hearts, Metro Manila Aide, White Rose Movement and filming for the release of the Arctic Monkeys second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare.[10]
References[link]
- ^ Graham's World TV Show - National Geographic Channel - Asia. Natgeotv.com (2009-02-02). Retrieved on 2010-09-28.
- ^ msnbc.com Video Player. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2010-09-28.
- ^ Go Graham!. WaterAid. Retrieved on 2010-09-28.
- ^ Globe-trotting Brit sets a new 'Guinness' record for itchy feet | The Japan Times Online. Search.japantimes.co.jp (2010-05-16). Retrieved on 2010-09-28.
- ^ Press Room. Ngceurope.com (2009-07-01). Retrieved on 2010-09-28.
- ^ Global filmmaker arrested again. BBC News (2009-09-11). Retrieved on 2010-09-28.
- ^ Fears for arrested round-world filmmaker - Africa, World. The Independent (2009-09-11). Retrieved on 2010-09-28.
- ^ Life & Style / Metroplus : Footloose round the world. The Hindu (2010-08-18). Retrieved on 2010-09-28.
- ^ http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=188638
- ^ As published in AU Magazine, December 2009
External links[link]
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hughes, Graham |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | |
| Date of birth | 1979 |
| Place of birth | Liverpool |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Graham_Hughes
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Hughes
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
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Wiki Summary
South Sudan (i/ˌsaʊθ suːˈdæn/ or /suːˈdɑːn/), officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country in the east-central African region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN subregion. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more centrally located Ramciel in the future. South Sudan is bordered by Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, the Central African Republic to the west, and Sudan to the north. South Sudan includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd formed by the White Nile, locally called the Bahr al Jabal.
The modern states of South Sudan and Sudan were part of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, later being governed as an Anglo-Egyptian condominium until Sudanese independence was achieved in 1956. Following the First Sudanese Civil War, the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was formed in 1972 and lasted until 1983. A second Sudanese civil war soon developed and ended with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005. Later that year, southern autonomy was restored when an Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was formed.
