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Sudan

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Sudan is a very large country in Northeast Africa.

Map of Sudan (New)
Map of Sudan (New)

It is the third-largest country on the continent by area. The land covers over 1.8 million square kilometres. Many different lands touch its borders. Egypt sits to the north of Sudan. To the west is Chad, and to the southwest is the Central African Republic. The Red Sea lies along its eastern edge. To the south, it borders South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Map of Sudan (New)
Map of Sudan (New)

The most crowded city is the capital, Khartoum.

History in this region began a very long time ago.

Western Deffufa - Kerma
Western Deffufa - Kerma

Some very old camps were found that are 50,000 years old. Later, people lived in villages made of mud bricks. They hunted, fished, and raised cattle near the Nile. One famous group was the Kerma culture, which lasted from 2500 BC to 1500 BC.

Western Deffufa - Kerma
Western Deffufa - Kerma

They built a large empire that was a rival to Egypt. Ancient Egyptians even ruled parts of this land for a long time. This history includes many different cultures and powerful kingdoms.

The Kingdom of Kush was another great power in Sudan.

This kingdom was centered where the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers meet. The Kushite kings were even powerful enough to rule as pharaohs in Egypt. They built many beautiful pyramids that still stand today.

You can see these in places like Meroe. These pyramids were built between 800 BC and 100 AD. The Kushites were also known for being skilled archers. This era was a time of great strength and building.

Sudan has seen many changes in how it is ruled.

For a long time, different groups like the Funj sultanate held power. Later, Egypt and the United Kingdom shared control of the land. This period is often called a condominium. Sudan finally became an independent state on 1 January 1956.

Sudan independence 2
Sudan independence 2

Since then, the country has faced many difficult times. There have been different wars between groups in the north and the south. These conflicts eventually led to the creation of South Sudan in 2011.

Life in Sudan today faces many hard challenges.

Water Stress, Top Countries (2020)
Water Stress, Top Countries (2020)

Much of the land is very dry and hot. This makes it hard to find enough water for everyone. Because of this, Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy relies a lot on farming.

Water Stress, Top Countries (2020)
Water Stress, Top Countries (2020)

Since 2023, a third civil war has been happening. This war is between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

War in Sudan (2023)
War in Sudan (2023)

This fighting makes life very difficult for the 51.8 million people living there.

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🖼️ Images & Media (38)
Sudanese national anthem, performed by...
File:Western Deffufa - Kerma.jpg
Western Deffufa - Kerma.jpg
File:Fortress of the Middle Kingdom, reconstructed under the New Kingdom ( about 1200 B.C.).jpg
Fortress of the Middle Kingdom,...
File:Nubian Prince Hekanefer bringing tribute for King Tut, 18th dynasty, Tomb of Huy.jpg
Nubian Prince Hekanefer bringing tribute...
File:Sudan Meroe Pyramids 2001.JPG
Sudan Meroe Pyramids 2001.JPG
File:Xerxes detail Ethiopian.jpg
Xerxes detail Ethiopian.jpg
File:Christian Nubia.png
Christian Nubia.png
File:King Moses George of Makuria.jpg
King Moses George of Makuria.jpg
File:Sennar mosque (cropped).jpg
Sennar mosque (cropped).jpg
File:Southern Sudan - 1800.png
Southern Sudan - 1800.png
File:Egypt under Muhammad Ali Dynasty map en.png
Egypt under Muhammad Ali Dynasty map en.png
File:Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi.jpg
Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi.jpg

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