Sudan

Khartoum serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Sudan, positioned in Northern Africa. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Omdurman, Port Sudan — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Khartoum sits at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile rivers — a meeting of waters so distinct in colour and temperature that they flow side by side without mixing for several kilometres — and the city's position at this junction has made it a trade and administrative node since the Ottoman period.

With a population of approximately 44.9M, Sudan is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The principal languages spoken are Arabic, English, which reflect the country's cultural heritage and open doors to a wide international community. Internationally, Sudan is reached via the dialling code +249. Sudanese hospitality centres on the coffee ceremony, jebena buna, in which beans are roasted, ground and brewed in a clay pot before guests over a shared conversation that cannot be hurried — a ritual that structures social time in both urban apartments and rural villages.

Sudan spans 1,886,068 km², in the Northern Africa subregion of Africa. Geographically centred around 15.0°N, 30.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Africa convention.

The official currency is the Sudanese pound (ج.س), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Sudan's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+03:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

The emblematic dish of Sudan is Ful Medames. Ful Medames — slow-cooked fava beans with cumin, lemon and olive oil — is among the oldest continuously prepared dishes in the Nile Valley, with fava beans found in ancient Egyptian archaeological sites, and remains the essential breakfast of Sudan's cities, served from communal pots ladled into enamel bowls since before recorded hospitality.

Football holds a special place in the heart of Sudan's national identity. Sudanese football has been shaped by the Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh clubs of Khartoum, whose rivalry draws crowds comparable to national elections and whose continental campaigns in the CAF Champions League remain the primary vehicle through which Sudanese football identity reaches beyond its borders.

The highest point in Sudan is Deriba Caldera, rising to 3,042 metres above sea level. Sudan's Nubian Desert contains more ancient pyramids than Egypt — over 200 at the Meroe, Nuri and El-Kurru sites — built by the Kushite kingdoms between 700 BCE and 350 CE, the remnants of a civilisation so thoroughly overshadowed by its northern neighbour that its scale is still surprising to most visitors.