History
The ancient Kingdom of Kush was situated in the north-east of present-day Sudan.

Christianity was introduced to the country in the fourth century, and by the sixth century a number of Christian kingdoms were established along the Nile.

Muslim contact with Sudan began in the seventh century. However, it was not until the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries that Islam gained a firm hold in northern Sudan.

In 1821 northern Sudan was conquered by Turko-Egyptian armies.

A revolt against the Turko-Egyptian administration took place in the early 1880s. In 1885 Khartoum was captured by forces of the religious leader known as the Mahdi. British and Egyptian troops regained control of Sudan in 1899.

Transition to independence began in 1953 with independence achieved in 1956. (In 2011 South Sudan gained independence.)

Conflict broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003.

In 2019 the army took over Sudan from President Bashir.

Violence flared up in 2023 following a power struggle within the military government; attacks took place on hospitals and medical facilities.

Economy
Agriculture provides employment for a large percentage of the working population.

Agricultural products are millet, sorghum, wheat, cassava, bananas, mangoes, papayas, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, sesame, groundnuts (peanuts), gum arabic, and cotton. Cattle, camels, sheep and goats are reared.

Oil accounts for a large proportion of the country's exports. Other industries include hydropower, mining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile and light truck assembly, cement, cotton ginning, textiles, shoes, sugar and edible oils.

Arts
Sudan's population is one of the most diverse on the African continent with over five hundred ethnic groups. Each group has its own traditions and culture.

Crafts include carvings, leather work and metal work.

Archaeological artifacts are housed in the National Museum in Khartoum. The Museum's garden contains two reconstructed temples from ancient times. Frescoes and murals from churches dating from the eighth to the fifteen century are kept in the museum's gallery.

Sport
Football is a popular sport in Sudan. Other team games are basketball and volleyball.

Water sports include scuba diving, snorkelling and yachting.

Holidays
All religious holidays are celebrated. Independence Day (from Egypt and UK - 1956 ) is on 1 January.

News
News from Sudan is available in Newslink.

Previous Page | Facts | Gallery