Embassy of the Sudan in Geneva

Basic Facts

Administrative Divisions
Sudan consists of 17 states ruled by elected governors. Each state has an elected parliament through a free direct system and proportional representation. Each state consists of a number of localities headed by an appointed commissioner and has an elected parliament.
Names of States by Population Size:
Khartoum (Khartoum), Gezira (Wad Madani), North Kordofan (El-Obeid),South Darfur (Nyala), South Kordofan (Kadugli), North Darfur (El-Fashir),Kassala (Kassala), East Darfur (Al-Diayn), White Nile (Rabak), Red Sea (Port Sudan), Al-Gadarif (Al-Gadarif), Sinnar (Sinja), River Nile (Al-Damir), Blue Nile(Al-Damazeen), West Darfur (Al-Jinayna), Northern State (Dongola), andCentral Darfur (Zalinji)
Number of Localities: 176
Independence
January 1st 1956: Sudan gains independence from Egypt and Britain (known as the Anglo - Egyptian Condominium).
" July 6th 2011: The declaration of the second Sudanese Republic
Official Holidays

• Independence Day: January 1st
• Christmas (Eastern denominations): January 7th
• The Prophet Muhammad's birth: Rabi Al-Awwal 12th
• Easter (Eastern and Western denominations): April 24th
• Commemoration of the National Salvation Revolution: June 30th
• Eid Al-Fitr: Shawwaal 1st
• Eid Al-Adha: Dhul Hijja 10th
• The Islamic New Year: Muharram 1st
• Christmas: December 25th (Western denominations)

The Constitution
The Republic of Sudan is an independent sovereign state, a decentralized democratic country that abides by and respects human dignity, and is based on equality and justice. Sudan is a united country and its sovereignty lies in the hands of its people.
The constitution lays down the basic principles that govern the formation and performance of ruling institutions and stipulates the obligations, freedoms and rights of citizens. It affirms the documentation of rights as a pledge between all people of Sudan and the government. It also stresses the need for the respect of human rights enshrined in agreements, conventions and international charters endorsed by the Government of Sudan as an integral part of the constitution's document.
The constitution also stipulates that Islamic law and consensus are sources of regulations and laws enacted at the national level. On religious rights, the constitution guarantees freedom of worship for all Sudanese, and states that Arabic is the country's official language. It also affirms that citizenship is the basis of rights and obligations and guarantees personal freedom and ensures equality for all before the law, it incriminates torture and guarantees every person the right to a fair trial, freedom of expression through media, and freedom of organization, movement and residence. The constitution also guarantees the protection of motherhood and childhood by the State, protection of women against injustice, and guarantees equality between the sexes and affirms women's role in the family and public life. The constitution also provides details regarding the State's institutions and their sphere of jurisdiction (the executive branch / the legislative branch / the judicial branch / governments of states).

* Religion:

The majority of the Sudanese are Muslims, a portion of the population is Christian, and Customary Creeds have considerable followers.

* Language:

Arabic, English, and local languages and dialects.

Major Town
Khartoum,the capital

Khartoum
The political capital, Omdurman, known as the national capital and it houses the buildings of the national Radio and TV along with the premises of the National Legislative Body with its two houses ( the National Assembly and the Council of States), and Khartoum North, which is considered as the industrial capital.

* Currency

The new national currency – the Sudanese Pound – was launched on the 9th of January 2007.This represented an important event in the implementation of the CPA. First and foremost, it is an important symbolic measure of change, but it also corrects the current situation where as many as six currencies are legal tender. Particularly in the Southern Sudan the new currency will benefit economic development. Norway has taken the lead among donors to mobilize international support. The IMF is providing technical assistance.

* Weights and Measures:
The metric system (metre, kilogram etc) is widely used. The feddan is the customary unit of land measurement. One feddan = 4,200 sq.m. = 1.038 acre = 0.42 hectare.

* Emblem & Flag:
Emblem:

The emblem of Sudan demonstrates the picture of the "Secretary Bird" with the wing spread upward. There is a frame linking the two wings of the strong bird and the phrase "Victory is for us" written on it.

The Flag:
It is composed of three rectangular strips of Red, White and Black colours (from up downward). There is a green triangle in the part near the staff .
The red colour depicts the struggle,white colour stands as a token for peace and optimism while black colour represents the Mahdist state which has been widely considered by Sudanese people as a nucleus of the modern Sudan.

Hotels
* Burjalfateh
http://www.burjalfateh.com/baf/home.aspx

* Grand Holiday Villa Hotel
http://www.holidayvillakhartoum.com/

*Hotel Palace
http://www.hotelpalace-sd.com/english/index.htm

*Al Salam Rotana - Khartoum
http://www.rotana.com/clubrotana-14-6-5.htm