Date of independence, or formation date: 1956
Date when current borders were established: 1956
National day: Jan 1
Vehicle country identifying code: SUD
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): +2
International telephone dialling code: +249
Internet country identifying code: .sd

Bordered on the east by the Red Sea, Sudan is the largest country in Africa. Its landscape changes from desert in the north to lush tropical in the south, with grassy plains and swamps in the center. Since independence from British and Egyptian rule in 1956, tensions between the Arab north and African south have led to two civil wars. The second of these conflicts remains unresolved. In 1989, an army coup installed a military Islamic fundamentalist regime.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004