The Republic of the Sudan, commonly referred to as simply Sudan, is a large country in Northeast Africa. Sudan is actually the tenth largest country in the world, with a total surface of 967,495 sq mi (2,505,813 km²). Sudan has a total population of 36,992,490, which is relatively low for a country of this size. The capital city, Khartoum, meaning "Elephant Trunk," is the economic center of the country, but not the largest city. Khartoum holds the largest airport in Sudan, all the main universities, and the largest and most modern hotels. Omdurman, the largest city in Sudan, is close by. Omdurman is the industrial center of the country.

The Sudan has been passed around from hand to hand for centuries. Sudan has been inhabited for at least 60,000 years, with the Egyptians playing an important part in its history and cultural growth. The Arabs didn't arrive in Sudan until the 13th century, but when they did, they took over both the political and cultural heritage of the country.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Sudan was under the rule of Egypt. By the beginning of the next century, however, the British had taken over and kept control of Sudan until the country gained its independence in 1956. Sudan now has a government of National Unity, which is a totalitarian regimen completely under the control of the political and military leader, Omar al-Bashir. Sudan is in war or conflict with several of its neighbors. The government has also refused to allow UN committees to enter its territory.

Sudan's demographic is almost equally divided between African ethnic tribes and Arabs. Arabic and English are both official languages, although over a hundred dialects are spoken throughout the territory. Most residents of Sudan are Muslims.

Sudan has a booming export system of crude oil, although the precarious state of the country means that some sectors are still underdeveloped. Sudan also produces manganese, gold, copper, and chrome. Agriculture has been the main source of income for the country for the past century or so. The unskilled work force is mainly employed in the agricultural sector.