Sudan country profile - BBC News BBC News Read more about sharing. Close share panel Sudan, once the largest and one of the most geographically diverse states in Africa, split into two countries in July 2011 after the people of the south voted for independence. The government of Sudan gave its blessing for an independent South Sudan, where the mainly Christian and Animist people had for decades been struggling against rule by the Arab Muslim north. However, various outstanding issues - especially the question of shared oil revenues and border demarcation - have continued to create tensions between the two successor states. Sudan has long 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. Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring FACTS Life expectancy 60 years (men), 64 years (women) Currency Sudanese pound Omar Hassan al-Bashir has ruled with an iron fist for more than 25 years.

He come to power in a coup in 1989 and was elected president in 1996. He was re-elected several times since, most recently in 2015 when he gained another five-year term. Most opposition parties boycotted the vote. Mr Bashir faces two international arrest warrants - issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague - on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. He continues to travel to countries that oppose the 2009 indictment, related to the conflict in Darfur. Image copyright Getty Images Sudanese broadcasting is highly restricted and state TV and radio reflect government policy. The private press carries opposition views, but the state uses its powers to influence what is published. Sudan had 9.3 million internet users by July 2014, with blogging being subject to scrutiny. Some key dates in Sudan's history: Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Much of Sudan is arid Circa 2000-1500 BC - Emergence of the Nubian Kingdom of Kush in what is now northern Sudan and Lower Nubia, which stretches to Egypt's Aswan province. 651 - Islam spreads in Sudan from Egypt.

1820-21 - Ottoman Empire conquers northern part of the country. 1899-1955 - Sudan is under joint British-Egyptian rule. 1956 - Sudan becomes independent. 1983 - President Numeiri introduces Sharia Islamic law. 2003 - Start of conflict in Darfur region. 2009 - International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for President Omar Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to the drawn-out conflict in Darfur. 2011 - South Sudan gains independence following years of war with the central government in Khartoum. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A joint UN and African Union force has been trying to keep the peace in Darfur BBC NEWS | Africa | Quick guide: Darfur Printable version Quick guide: Darfur Darfur is a semi-arid western province of Sudan - Africa's largest country. Darfur alone is the size of France. In an Arab-dominated country, Darfur's population is mostly black African. WHAT IS A QUICK GUIDE? Quick guides are concise explanations of topics or issues in the news.

For years, there have been tensions between the mostly African farmers and the mostly Arab herders, who have competed for land. Opposition groups in Darfur say the government neglects their province, and discriminates against black Africans. Conflict The conflict began in 2003, when rebel groups began attacking government targets. In retaliation, the government launched a military and police campaign in Darfur. More than 2m people fled their homes. Many spoke of government aircraft bombing villages, after which the Arab Janjaweed militia would ride in on camels and horses to slaughter, rape and steal. The refugees and some western observers said there was a deliberate attempt to drive black Africans out of Darfur. The government admits mobilising "self-defence militias", but denies links to the Janjaweed and says the problems have been exaggerated. Refugees Those who fled the violence are now living in camps across Darfur. About 200,000 refugees have crossed the border into Chad. Those living in camps now depend on food aid from international donors. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that continuing violence is making it difficult, or impossible, for them to provide the displaced people with the help they need.

Peace deal Attempts by the African Union (AU) - a grouping of African states - to end the conflict resulted in a peace deal being signed in 2006. WANT TO KNOW MORE? Send us an e-mail The Sudanese government backed the deal, but only one rebel faction - Minni Minawi's faction of the Sudan Liberation Army - signed up. As part of the deal, the government agreed to disarm the Janjaweed, but there is little to suggest that this has happened. At the same time, Minni Minawi's men now seem to be fighting on the side of the government against the other rebel groups. All this means that violence has actually increased since the peace deal was signed. Peacekeepers The AU has sent 7,000 soldiers to try to monitor a ceasefire. The Sudanese government agreed to allow this force to operate. But this relatively small force has not managed to end the violence. Britain and the US have been pushing for the United Nations to take over the peacekeeping mission and the AU is happy to stand aside. Sudan, however, says it will not allow a UN force on its territory.

Sudan: Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Guide & Travel/Holidays/Cities ICC Halts Darfur Investigation; President Bashir Re-Elected Geography Sudan, in northeast Africa, measures about one-fourth the size of the United States. Its neighbors are Chad and the Central African Republic on the west, Egypt and Libya on the north, Ethiopia and Eritrea on the east, and South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of the Congo on the south. The Red Sea washes about 500 mi of the eastern coast. It is traversed from north to south by the Nile, all of whose great tributaries are partly or entirely within its borders. Government Military government. History What is now northern Sudan was in ancient times the kingdom of Nubia, which came under Egyptian rule after 2600 B.C. An Egyptian and Nubian civilization called Kush flourished until A.D. 350. Missionaries converted the region to Christianity in the 6th century, but an influx of Muslim Arabs, who had already conquered Egypt, eventually controlled the area and replaced Christianity with Islam.

During the 1500s a people called the Funj conquered much of Sudan, and several other black African groups settled in the south, including the Dinka, Shilluk, Nuer, and Azande. Egyptians again conquered Sudan in 1874, and after Britain occupied Egypt in 1882, it took over Sudan in 1898, ruling the country in conjunction with Egypt. It was known as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan between 1898 and 1955. The 20th century saw the growth of Sudanese nationalism, and in 1953 Egypt and Britain granted Sudan self-government. Independence was proclaimed on Jan. 1, 1956. Since independence, Sudan has been ruled by a series of unstable parliamentary governments and military regimes. Under Maj. Gen. Gaafar Mohamed Nimeiri, Sudan instituted fundamentalist Islamic law in 1983. This exacerbated the rift between the Arab north, the seat of the government, and the black African animists and Christians in the south.

Differences in language, religion, ethnicity, and political power erupted in an unending civil war between government forces, strongly influenced by the National Islamic Front (NIF) and the southern rebels, whose most influential faction is the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Human rights violations, religious persecution, and allegations that Sudan had been a safe haven for terrorists isolated the country from most of the international community. In 1995, the UN imposed sanctions against it. On Aug. 20, 1998, the United States launched cruise missiles that destroyed a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Khartoum which allegedly manufactured chemical weapons. The U.S. contended that the Sudanese factory was financed by Islamic militant Osama bin Laden. The Basic Facts about Darfur Confused by the complexity of the situation and the information out there? What is Darfur? Darfur is the western region of Sudan, Africa. Darfur is not a country in itself. The region was home to about 6 million people and is about the size of France. Where is Darfur? Who lives in Darfur? Darfur is home to racially mixed tribes of settled peasants, who identify as African, and nomadic herders, who identify as Arab.

The majority of people in both groups are Muslim. What is happening in Darfur? The situation is very complicated but it can be summarised in brief. Government neglect has left the people throughout Sudan poor and voiceless. In February 2003, the non-Arab ethnic groups of Darfur launched an uprising against the Kartoum government. The government responded by implementing their campaign of genocide, enlisting the help of Arab militia in Darfur called the Janjaweed. The dispute is racial, not religious: Muslim Arab Sudanese are killing Muslim black Sudanese. Who are the Janjaweed? The Janjaweed are the armed militia supported by the Sudanese Government to carry out the genocide, alongside and independent of, the Sudanese Army. How is the violence being conducted? A typical situation is this: The Janjaweed will enter a village on horse or camel back. They then set about causing as much mayhem and terror as possible: destroying houses and buildings, shooting the men, gang raping the women and children and shooting any who try to escape. The village is generally destroyed, families dispersed and separated, most killed. Those who manage to escape then attempt the long journey to an IDP (Internally displaced persons) camp.

Essentially however, there are now very few functioning villages left in the Darfur region as most of them have been systematically attacked in this way. Google Earth and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum have collaborated to let you see the destruction for yourself. You can zoom in on destroyed villages, houses and schools and see exactly the damage that is being done. Visit: Who has been affected so far? Up to 400,000 people have died due as a result of direct attacks and conflict induced malnutrition and disease. The vast majority of these have been women, children and civilian men. More than 3 million people have been displaced and are living in IDP camps More than 350,000 people are deprived of humanitarian support due to the threat of attack faced by aid workers. Thousands starve each month due to the Sudanese government impeding humanitarian aid efforts A further 4 million Darfuri residents are dependant on limited international humanitarian assistance. The violence is now spilling onto neighbouring Eastern Chad. Why is the situation allowed to continue? Although the Sudanese Government have committed to allowing a 26,000 strong peacekeeper force into the region they have continually showed their contempt for the people of Darfur.

This shows a blatant disregard by the Sudanese Government of UN Security Council Resolution 1674, which gives the international community the 'Responsibility to Protect' civilians from genocide when governments fail to do so. Download the "Darfur for Dummies" factsheet here . Africa Map / Map of Africa - Facts, Geography, History of Africa - Worldatlas.com African History African Origin of Modern Humans As for Africa, scientists have formerly concluded that it is the birthplace of mankind, as large numbers of human-like fossils (discovered no where else) were found on the continent, some dating back 3.5 million years. About 1.75 million years ago, early man spread throughout parts of Africa. They became aggressive hunters, lived in caves and used fire and their ability to create stone tools just to survive. The Neanderthals arose some 200,000 years ago and inhabited regions in northern Africa and across parts of southern Europe. There is also clear evidence that they had control of fire, lived in caves, as well as open-air structures of stone and vegetation. One of the most important developments of primitive man was the creation of stone tools.

By 5000 BC farming was somewhat common in the northern areas of Africa, as people were growing crops and herding livestock. During that time the Sahara Desert was a fertile area. Ancient African History In 3200 BC the Egyptian culture emerged along the lower reaches of the Nile River; it was among the earliest civilizations and their tools and weapons were made of bronze. They also pioneered the building of massive pyramids and temples. Egyptians also developed mathematics, an innovative system of medicine, irrigation and agricultural production techniques, writing and the first ships. In short, the Egyptians left a lasting legacy upon the world. Around 600 BC the use of metal tools spread across small population bases and farming groups in North Africa, and their use gradually spread south into what is now called South Africa. The Phoenicians were an enterprising maritime trading culture from Lebanon who spread across the Mediterranean from 1550 BC to 300 BC. In 814 BC, they founded the city of Carthage in what is now Tunisia in north Africa; only to be destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC.

Meanwhile, the Egyptians continued to spread their culture across Northern Africa, and kingdoms were created in Ethiopia and Sudan. The then-growing Roman Empire continued to expand its influence, and in 30 BC Egypt became a province of Rome; Morocco the same in 42 AD. Before the Middle Ages began, the Roman Empire collapsed and the Arabs quickly took their place on the continent. In 698-700 they invaded Tunis and Carthage and soon controlled all of coastal North Africa. The Arabs were Muslims, and most of North Africa converted to Islam; Ethiopia was the exception. Soon kingdoms emerged in Africa; they traded with the Arabs using gold plus a valuable commodity - slaves. One of the first kingdoms was Ghana, located in what is now southeastern Mauritania and western Mali. The empire grew rich from the trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt, but then lost its power in the 11th century. Additional kingdoms developed across the continent, including those in Benin and Mali. Both became rich by trading in gold, horse salt, and of course, slaves. And like most kingdoms before them on any continent, they were invaded and in the end destroyed.

Mogadishu, the now largest city in Somalia, was settled by Arabs who traveled and traded on the east coast of Africa. The Arabs' reach extended to Zanzibar, which was used as a base for voyages between the Middle East and India. As other organized kingdoms were formed in central and southern Africa, the Portuguese began to explore the western coast of Africa. By 1445 they reached the Cape Verde Islands and the coast of Senegal, and the mouth of the River Congo in 1482. They even sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. African Colonization and the Slave Trade The continent-changing 16th Century began with Europeans transporting African slaves to the Americas for profit. A slave purchased on the African coast for the equivalent of 14 English pounds in bartered goods could sell for 45 pounds in the American market. The best-known method of commerce at the time was called the Triangular Trading System. It involved British and other European countries' manufactured goods which were shipped to Africa, then slaves from there to the West Indies and then sugar and other products back to Europe. At the same time, Barbary pirates along the North African coast captured thousands of ships.

From the 16th to 19th century, an estimated 800,000 to 1.25 million people were taken captive as slaves. The pirates' impact on the continent, however, peaked in the early to mid-17th century. As tales of African riches spread north, the Europeans founded their first real colonies in the early 16th century, when the Portuguese settled in what is now Angola. Later, the Dutch founded a colony in what is now South Africa. Strong movements to end slavery began in the late 18th century. France became one of the first countries to abolish slavery in 1794. Britain banned slave trade in 1807, but it was not officially abolished for good until 1848. In some parts of Africa, slave-like practices continue to this day and have proven difficult to eliminate. Wholesale colonization of Africa by European countries began in 1814 when the British snatched the Dutch Colony of South Africa. Carved up like a large pie, the Brits, Dutch, French, Germans and Portuguese grabbed all of the available pieces.

By the end of the 19th century, from Algeria to Zimbabwe, and from Botswana to Niger, the continent was now all but controlled by European powers. In the early 20th century the land grab continued as the British took control of Egypt. By 1920, the forced occupation of African lands began to sour in Europe, and change was in the wind. Africans were also driven by their passionate desire for independence and the movement for same became unstoppable. By mid-century most of the continent was independent, with Angola finally free in 1975. Post-Colonial Africa Self-government brought more than its share of civil wars, coup d'états and ethnic conflicts to the newly emerged countries. Add to that mix some horrible genocides, along with famines and out-of-control disease (HIV/AIDS), and Africa was teetering on the edge, and in many areas still does today. Although Africa remains the world's poorest inhabited continent, there are many bright spots in this land of over one billion people and its 2,000 + languages. Significant economic and social gains have taken place over the last few years, with South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt leading the way.

The largest segments of modern Africa's economies are agriculture and mining, with tourism growing in some areas. Manufacturing industries have grown large enough to ship products across the planet, and the oil export revenues of Angola, Libya and Nigeria have the potential to change the lives of millions. Today the 54 countries of Africa have great potential, but this question must be asked: "Can it change soon enough to meet the needs of its people?" We can only hope so. Africa Geography Facts For additional geography details please use the yellow navigation bar at the top of this page. Algeria is Africa's largest country The Seychelles are Africa's smallest country Nigeria is Africa's largest country by population The Seychelles are Africa's smallest country by population Africa's highest point is Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania Africa's lowest point is Lake Assal in Djibouti Interesting Facts About Africa Two of Africa's most interesting geographical features are the Nile River System and Sahara Desert; both impressive in so many ways. Nile River System: The Nile is a north-flowing river considered the longest river in the world at 6,650 km (4,130 mi) long. It is shared by and benefits eleven countries.

The White Nile and Blue Nile are its major tributaries. The White Nile is longer and rises in the Great Lakes region of central Africa, flowing north from Tanzania to South Sudan . The Blue Nile is the source of most of the water and both rivers join near Khartoum, Sudan The northern section of the river flows almost entirely through desert, from Sudan into Egypt. The Nile ends in a large delta that empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Sahara Desert: It's the world's hottest desert, the third largest desert after Antarctica and the Arctic, and almost as large as China. Covering almost one-third of the continent, the Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world at approximately 3,500,000 sq. miles (9,065,000 sq. km) in total size. Topography includes areas of rock-strewn plains, rolling sand dunes and numerous sand seas. It ranges in elevation from 100 ft. below sea level, to peaks in the Ahaggar and Tibesti Mountains, that exceed 11,000 ft. (3,350m).

Regional deserts include the Libyan, Nubian and the Western desert of Egypt, just to the west of the Nile. Almost completely without rainfall, a few underground rivers flow from the Atlas Mountains, helping to irrigate isolated oases. In the east, the waters of the Nile help fertilize smaller parts of the landscape. Africa Information Africa weather forecasts and current conditions Maps of Africa Africa, the planet's 2nd largest continent and the second most-populous continent (after Asia) includes (54) individual countries, and Western Sahara, a member state of the African Union whose statehood is disputed by Morocco. Note that South Sudan is the continent's newest country. With a 2011 population of 1,032,532,974, it accounts for just over 14% of the world's human population. It also contains the Nile River system, the world's longest, and the massive Sahara Desert, the world's largest. Africa is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the east and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Country Map of Africa Outline Outline map of the Africa continent including the disputed territory of Western Sahara Political Map of Sudan | Sudan States Map Political Map of Sudan Disclaimer Close Disclaimer : All efforts have been made to make this image accurate. However Compare Infobase Limited,its directors and employees do not own any responsibility for the correctness or authenticity of the same. Sudan political map showcases the provinces and their capitals, which constitute the Republic of the Sudan. The provinces are colored individually to differentiate from each other. The map also features the neighboring countries of Sudan. A part of Sudan also borders the Red Sea. The capital of Sudan is Khartoum and is marked with a red dot on the Sudan map. Location and Geography of Sudan The political map of Sudan points the country in the northern part of the African continent. The geographical coordinates of the country are 15° North latitude and 30° East longitude. The total area of the country is 2,505,810 square kilometers, of which the land area is 2.376 million square kilometers and the rest 129,810 square kilometers is covered by waterbodies. The coastline of Sudan stretches over an area of 853 kilometers.

The lowest point of the country is Red Sea and Kinyeti is the highest point of the country, situated at 3,187 meters. Province Boundaries on Sudan Map The province boundaries of Sudan are marked with white squares on the printable Sudan map and are marked with broken lines. The provinces are: Dunqulah Darfur Genocide « World Without Genocide - Working to create a World Without Genocide Take Action! Darfur Genocide The “Darfur Genocide” refers to the current mass slaughter and rape of Darfuri men, women, and children in Western Sudan. The killings began in 2003 and continue still today, as the first genocide in the 21st century. The genocide is being carried out by a group of government-armed and funded Arab militias known as the Janjaweed (which loosely translates to ‘devils on horseback’). The Janjaweed systematically destroy Darfurians by burning villages, looting economic resources, polluting water sources, and murdering, raping, and torturing civilians. These militias are historic rivals of the main rebel groups, the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

As of today, over 480,000 people have been killed, and over 2.8 million people are displaced. Sudan is the largest country in Africa. Located in Northeastern Africa, it borders the Red Sea and falls between Egypt, Chad, Uganda, as well as six other countries. The capitol, Khartoum, is in the Northeastern part of the country. Darfur is a region in Western Sudan that encompasses an area roughly the size of Spain. The population of Darfur is estimated at 6,000,000 people. The conflict in Darfur has also increased tensions in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic as hundreds of thousands of refugees stream over the two countries’ borders to escape violence. Following independence from Britain in 1956, Sudan became embroiled in two prolonged civil wars for most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab, southern Sudanese. Competition for scarce resources played a large role.

As nomads began to compete for grazing land, traditional reconciliation measures were no longer able to settle disputes, causing the region to become increasingly militarized. The complexities of desertification, famines, and the civil war raging between North and South Sudan contributed to a rise in regional tensions during the 1980s. Similarly, as oil was discovered in Western Sudan, the Sudanese government and international contributors became increasingly interested in the land in Darfur. Internally displaced persons The first civil war ended in 1972 but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than 4 million people being displaced and, according to rebel estimates, more than 2 million deaths over a period of two decades. As the civil war between the North and the South reached its peak in the 1990’s, the government ignored reports of rising violence in Darfur. While the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended the North-South War in 2005, granting additional political power to South Sudan, it failed to take into account the effects of the war on Darfur. Additionally, Darfur remained underdeveloped and marginalized at the federal level, lacking infrastructure and development assistance.

This neglect, combined with allegations that the government was arming Arab tribesmen (Janjaweed) to raid non-Arab villages, was cited as the justification for a February 2003 rebel attack on a Sudanese Air Force Base at El Fasher, North Darfur. This attack sparked a series of government reprisals on residents of Darfur, contributing to the large-scale human rights atrocities facing Darfurian civilians today. Failed peace talks have allowed for the continuation of the conflict. The most successful talks thus far took place in Abuja in 2005-2006, leading to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Present at these negotiations were the Sudanese government and three main rebel groups: the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Abdel Wahid Mohamed al-Nur’s faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), and Minni Minawi’s faction of the SLM. However, multiple negotiations have thus far been largely unsuccessful. Armed Janjaweed Militia Early in 2008, the UN issued a hybrid United Nations-African Union mission (UNAMID) to maintain peace in Darfur.

UNAMID, with a projected strength of 26,000 troops, was authorized to use force to protect civilians. Despite this mandate, however, only 9,000 were sent, and they lacked the necessary equipment to carry out their mission. On March 4, 2009, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Bashir for crimes against humanity and, in July 2010, a warrant for arrest on charges of genocide. The government of Sudan, however, has yet to turn him over, and since the issuance of the warrants, the country has seen major protests and increased violence. The government has also forcefully expelled aid agencies from the country that has further jeopardized the conditions for thousands of displaced and marginalized civilians. President Omar al-Bashir It is expected that al-Bashir will not face trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague until he is apprehended in a nation which accepts the ICC’s jurisdiction. Sudan is not a state party to the Rome Statute, the international treaty creating the ICC, which it signed but didn’t ratify. By all accounts, al-Bashir should be a prisoner in his own country.

However, the Arab League has announced its solidarity with al-Bashir. Since the warrant, he has visited Qatar and Egypt. Both countries have refused to arrest him and the African Union also condemned the arrest warrant and asked the United Nations Security Council to delay its enforcement. The Sudanese government and JEM signed a ceasefire agreement in February 2010, with a tentative agreement to pursue further peace. However, talks have been disrupted by accusations that the Sudanese army continues to launch raids and air strikes against Darfur villages. The Janjaweed have also been accused of incursions and attacks in neighboring Chad. Hundreds of aid workers in Chad have already been evacuated due to increased tension between rebel groups and military forces. Meanwhile, the Janjaweed have ventured deep into Chad to conduct assaults, resulting in the fleeing of nearly 100,000 Chadians. Burning Village Attacks on Darfuri villages commonly begin with Sudanese Air Force bombings. Air campaigns are often followed by Janjaweed militia raids. All remaining village men, women, and children are either murdered or forced to flee. Looting, burning food stocks, enslaving and raping women and children, and stealing livestock are common.

Dead bodies are tossed in wells to contaminate water supplies and entire villages are burned to the ground. The on-going conflict in Darfur, Sudan was declared “genocide” by United States Secretary of State Colin Powell on September 9, 2004, in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On February 18, 2006, President George W. Bush called for the number of international troops in Darfur to be doubled. On September 17, 2006, British Prime Minister Tony Blair wrote an open letter to the members of the European Union calling for a unified response to the crisis. In supporting the United Nations Security Council Resolution in 2007 to authorize the deployment of up to 26,000 peacekeepers to try to stop the violence in Darfur, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a speech before the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Darfur crisis was “the greatest humanitarian disaster the world faces today.” The British government also endorsed the International Criminal Court’s ruling regarding Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and has urged the Sudanese government to co-operate.

Victims of Genocide Both China and Russia have worked to block many United Nations resolutions in attempts to appease the Sudanese government. From its seat on the United Nations Security Council, China has been Sudan’s chief diplomatic ally. China invests heavily in Sudanese oil. The country is China’s largest oversees oil provider. Sudan’s military is supplied by Chinese-made helicopters, tanks, fighter planes, bombers, rocket launch propelled grenades, and machine guns. For decades, Russia and China have maintained a strong economic and politically strategic partnership. The countries opposed UN peace keeping troops in the Sudan. Russia strongly supports Sudan’s territorial integrity and opposes the creation of an independent Darfuri state. Also, Russia is Sudan’s strongest investment partner and political ally in Europe. Russia considers Sudan as an important global ally in the African continent. Download a one page PDF summary of this information here . Sudan Fast Facts - CNN.com Sudan Fast Facts CNN Library Updated 4:15 PM ET, Wed December 21, 2016 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

A picture taken on June 27, 2014, shows the Presidential Palace under construction in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, as the country marks twenty-five years since Field Marshal Omar al-Bashir took power. (CNN) Here's a look at what you need to know about The Republic of Sudan , a North African country bordering the Red Sea, Egypt , Libya , Chad, Central African Republic , South Sudan , Ethiopia and Eritrea. Between 2003 and 2008, at least 300,000 people were killed, and 3 million displaced during the Darfur Conflict, fighting between rebel groups and the government. About Sudan: Area: 1,861,484 square kilometers slightly less than one-fifth the size of the United States.

Population: 36,108,853 (July 2015 estimate) Median age: 19.3 years Ethnic Groups: Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Fallata Religion: Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority GDP (purchasing power parity): $167 billion (2015 est.) GDP per capita: $4,300 (2015 est.) Unemployment: 13.6% (2014 est.) Other Facts: Sudan was the largest country in Africa prior to the secession of South Sudan in 2011. It is now the third largest, after Algeria and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The size of Sudan is now approximately 25% smaller, with an area of 1.86 million square kilometers. Sudan lost most of its oil reserves, estimated to be between five and seven billion barrels, after the secession of South Sudan. The United Nations has called the Sudan/Darfur conflict one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

Timeline: 1955 - Prior to Sudan's independence, conflict breaks out between Muslim Arabs in the north and Christian/Animist Africans in the south. January 1, 1956 - Sudan gains its independence after an agreement between the United Kingdom and Egypt. 1972 - Seventeen years of civil war end with the signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement between the north and the south. 1977 - Oil is discovered in southwestern Sudan. Civil war in the 1980s and 1990s prevents much exploration or development of the oil deposits. 1980s - Prolonged droughts put pressure on water and farming resources. 1983 - Col. John Garang de Mabior leads a mutiny of army soldiers, re-igniting the civil war. June 30, 1989 - Lt. Gen. Omar al-Bashir seizes power in a coup. October 1993 - Al-Bashir becomes president of Sudan when the Revolutionary Command Council is dissolved, and Sudan is restored to civilian rule.

March 1996 - Al-Bashir is re-elected president with over 75% of the vote. December 2000 - Al-Bashir is re-elected president with over 85% of the vote. February 2003 - The conflict in Darfur begins when black African rebel groups attack government property, accusing the government of neglecting Darfur in favor of the Arab population in Sudan. 2005 - A comprehensive peace agreement is signed by representatives from the north and the south. Part of the agreement includes independence for southern Sudan within six years. July 14, 2008 - The International Criminal Court files genocide charges against al-Bashir . March 4, 2009 - The International Criminal Court at The Hague issues an arrest warrant for al-Bashir for a five-year campaign of violence in Darfur. April 26, 2010 - Sudan's National Election Commission certifies al-Bashir as the winner of recent presidential elections with 68% of the vote. July 2010 - The International Criminal Court issues a second arrest warrant for al-Bashir.

The warrant adds three new counts of genocide to the 2009 warrant. February 7, 2011 - The Southern Sudan Referendum Commission announces that 98.83% have voted for separation from the north. US President Barack Obama declares Washington's intention to recognize South Sudan as an independent state in July, when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is scheduled to end. February 21, 2011 - A party official announces that President al-Bashir will not seek re-election when his term expires in 2015. April 27, 2011 - In a speech on state television, President al-Bashir claims the disputed oil-rich region of Abyei on behalf of the north. May 22, 2011 - The UN condemns the violence over the oil-rich region of Abyei after multiple clashes between southern Sudanese forces and the northern Sudanese Armed Forces. May 31, 2011 - The African Union announces that Sudan and South Sudan have reached an agreement over Abyei, in which a demilitarized, jointly monitored Common Border Zone is established.

June 5, 2011 - Fighting between the northern Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army of southern Sudan erupts near Kadugli, the capital of oil-rich Southern Kordofan state. The UN also reports violence in neighboring Blue Nile and African Unity states. June 15, 2011 - The UN says that 102,000 people have fled from the disputed region of Abyei. June 20, 2011 - Representatives from Sudan and South Sudan sign an agreement calling for the immediate withdrawal of Sudanese troops from Abyei and for joint supervision of the disputed region. July 9, 2011 - South Sudan becomes an independent state , with a population of eight million people. July 12, 2011 - President al-Bashir announces economic austerity measures in a speech to parliament. He also details plans for a new constitution, new currency, and greater political freedom. September 8, 2011 - According to UN officials, the governments of Sudan and South Sudan reach an agreement that will allow the withdrawal of their troops from the disputed border region of Abyei.

October 2011 - In his first visit to Khartoum since South Sudan's independence, President Salva Kiir meets with Sudanese President al-Bashir to "reach final solutions" to address continuing differences between their countries. October 31, 2011 - Government officials announce that Sudanese troops have killed hundreds of rebel fighters during a battle in the border province of Southern Kordofan. January 23, 2012 - South Sudan shuts down oil production after accusing Sudan of stealing $815 million of its oil. Sudan says it confiscated the crude to make up for unpaid fees to use the pipeline and processing facilities in its territory. January 24, 2012 - According to Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 78,000 people have fled Sudan's South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since August of last year. February 10, 2012 - During talks mediated by the African Union, Sudan and South Sudan sign a nonaggression pact aimed at bringing peace to the border region.

April 12, 2012 - South Sudan forces claim the oil fields in the town of Heglig, which account for about half of Sudan's oil production. April 20, 2012 - South Sudan announces the withdrawal of its troops from the contested, oil-rich area of Heglig. Sudan claims that the South Sudan troops were "forced to withdraw." April 29, 2012 - Sudanese President al-Bashir declares a state of emergency for cities in the provinces of South Kordofan, White Nile and Sinnar, which are on the eastern half of its border with South Sudan. September 27, 2012 - Sudanese President al-Bashir and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir sign a deal to resume oil exports and establish a demilitarized zone and principles of border demarcation, but do not reach a deal on the status of Abyei, a disputed region claimed by both countries. March 8, 2013 - Defense ministers from Sudan and South Sudan sign an agreement to soon withdraw their respective military forces from the 14-mile-wide demilitarized zone between the countries.

April 6, 2013 - A splinter group from the Justice and Equality Movement, the largest Darfurian rebel group, signs a peace agreement based on the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) with the Sudanese government. April 9, 2013 - Countries pledge $3.7 billion at a conference in Doha, Qatar, for the reconstruction and development of Darfur. September 23-October 7, 2013 - Demonstrators protest the lifting of government gas subsidies, which nearly doubled the price of gasoline. January 6, 2014 - President Omar al-Bashir travels to South Sudan for talks with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir. Unrest in South Sudan had left more than 1,000 people dead and cut South Sudan's oil output, effecting the economies of both countries. February 1, 2014 - The International Committee of the Red Cross says that Sudanese authorities have ordered the Red Cross to halt its activities in the Sudan , citing technical reasons. The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has worked in Sudan for 36 years.

January 28, 2016 - Sudan's president orders the opening of the border with South Sudan for the first time since the South seceded five years ago, Sudan's state news agency reports.

Question: In which African country is the province of Darfur?
Answer: Sudan