MILNET Note: The United States has
designated
this country for sanctions under Federal regulation
(Export Administration Act), due to the provisions of
Executive Order 12947
which prohibits transactions and places sanctions
on countries who either sponser terrorism or willfully interfere with the
MidEast Peace Process.
Chapter 4: Red Sea, Horn of Africa
Sudan: Overview
Facts
/ Geography, Climate / Cities
/ Posture Statement Excerpt
Leadership
/ System Essentials / Infrastructure
/ Population / Fielded Forces
/ Table of Contents
MILNET Brief: The Threat from Sudan
Plateau and plains predominate. Mountainous areas lie behind the Red Sea coast, in the far south, and in the far west. The only interior highlands are the Nuba Mountains west of White Nile River. All significant streams flow to the White Nile and Blue Nile rivers, which join just north of Khartoum to form the River Nile. There are extensive swamps in south, especially along the southernmost part of the White Nile.
Rainfall ranges from rare and occasional in the far northern desert to relatively abundant and frequent (rainy seasons of six to nine months) in southern third of Sudan. In most years, the central third of the country has enough rain for agriculture. Dust storms are common in the north and northern parts of central Sudan. Mean temperatures are generally high.
Sudan, the largest country in Africa, continues to experience profound economic and political difficulties. The central government's inability to establish peace with the several separatist movements in the South, its support of global terrorism, its strong ties with Iran and Iraq, and a persistent pattern of fiscal and political mismanagement have led to internal chaos and the diplomatic isolation of Sudan by the world community. These internal problems adversely affect the ability of the OAU and the International Governmental Authority for Drought and Development (IGADD) to effectively solve the many humanitarian issues facing the region.
The civil war raging in southern Sudan has devastated the country's economy and is responsible for repeated famines and widespread dislocation in the South. Although international groups work to facilitate an agreement between separatist movements and the central government, intransigence on the part of all parties makes accommodation in the near term impossible.