Sudan country profile

Sudan is the largest and one of the most geographically diverse countries in Africa. Mountain ranges divide the deserts of the north from the swamps and rain forests of the south, and the River Nile splits the country from east to west.

However, the country is due to split in July 2011. The people in the south voted in a January 2011 referendum to separate and form the continent's newest state.

The country has been beset by conflict. Two rounds of north-south civil war cost the lives of 1.5 million people, and a continuing conflict in the western region of Darfur has driven two million people from their homes and killed more than 200,000.

Humanitarian crisis
Civil war in Darfur region is seen as "one of the worst nightmares in recent history"; tribal clashes in south have been escalating

Politics
President Omar Bashir faces war crimes charges over Darfur. He heads a unity government formed after a peace deal ended 20 years of southern civil war.

Ethnic groups

Sudan has 597 ethnicities that speak over 400 different languages and dialects split into two major ethnic groups: Sudanese Arabs of the largely Muslim Northern Sudan versus the largely Christian and animist Nilote Southern Sudan of the south.These two groups consist of hundreds of smaller ethnic and tribal divisions, and in the latter case, language groups.

Economy under construction

Until the second half of 2008, Sudan's economy boomed on the back of increases in oil production, high oil prices, and large inflows of foreign direct investment. GDP growth registered more than 10% per year in 2006 and 2007. Agricultural production remains important, because it employs 80% of the work force and contributes a third of GDP. The population will remain at or below the poverty line for years despite rapid rises in average per capita income. In January 2007, the government introduced a new currency, the Sudanese Pound, at an initial exchange rate of $1.00 equals 2 Sudanese Pounds.

Sudanese foods

Sudan is a North African country that lies on the Red Sea just south of Egypt. It is Africa's largest nation (as determined by land area) with a population composed, in the main, of Kushite Arabs and Black Africans. Though Arabic and English are the official languages the country is composed of hundreds of ethnic divisions and tribal groups.

As might be expected, the cuisine of Sudan is as diverse as the population. Wheat and seafood tend to predominate in the north and plantains are a staple in the east. Freshwater fish is more common in the south, where the cuisine is much more similar to that of neighbouring Ethiopia.

Sudanese Pasta Bake

Ingredients:
250g pasta
100g grated cheese
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 green pepper, chopped
1 pinch salt

Method:
Boil the pasta in water until just tender (about 20 minutes). Drain and place in a baking dish then stir-in the butter, tomato paste and green pepper. Add a pinch of salt. Mix the grated cheese and ketchup together and sprinkle over the top of the dish. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 180°C until the dish is crispy.

Music and the policy

Sudan has a rich and unique musical culture that has been through chronic instability and repression during the modern history of Sudan. Beginning with the imposition of strict sharia law in 1989, many of the country's most prominent poets, like Mahjoub Sharif, were imprisoned while others, like Mohammed el Amin (returned to Sudan in mid of 1990s) and Mohammed Wardi (returned to Sudan 2003), fled to Cairo. Traditional music suffered too, with traditional Zar ceremonies being interrupted and drums confiscated. At the same time, however, the European militaries contributed to the development of Sudanese music by introducing new instruments and styles; military bands, especially the Scottish bagpipes, were renowned, and set traditional music to military march music. The march March Shulkawi No 1, is an example, set to the sounds of the Shilluk.

Modern Music

The city of Juba, the capital of southern Sudan, was home to the thriving nightlife prior to the current strife in that area. Top local bands of the 1970s and 80s included the Skylarks (video) and Rejaf Jazz.

The Dinka, on the front lines between the north and the south of Sudan, have retained a vibrant folk tradition. The musical Kambala, a harvest festival, is still a major part of Nuba culture. The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) include a group called the Black Stars, a unit dedicated to "cultural advocacy and performance". Members include the guitarist and singer Ismael Koinyi, as well as Jelle, Jamus and Tahir Jezar

South Sudan: a new country

Southern Sudan is a landlocked autonomous region in the southern part of the Sudan. A referendum on independence for Southern Sudan was held in January 2011, with 98.83% of the electorate opting for secession. The President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, accepted the results and issued a Republican Decree confirming the outcome of the referendum. Southern Sudan is expected to become an independent country on 9 July 2011. Upon independence, the country will be named the Republic of South Sudan "out of familiarity and convenience", according to members of a steering committee on post-independence governing.