COUNTRY:  SUDAN

STATISTICS:

Population:                        32 million

Infant mortality rate:          65.59 deaths/                                                   1000 births

Life expectancy:                 57 years

Literacy (15 years

and above):                        61%

GDP per capita:                  Aprox. $300

     Sudan is ranked among the 20 most poverty stricken nations in the world.  Due to over two decades of civil war and economic mismanagement, Sudan's economy is severely crippled.  The country's primary resources come from agriculture, although oil production is taking on a greater role.  The government is taking steps toward moving into a more market-based than socialist economy. 

    Military parties favoring Islamic governments have dominated the country of Sudan since its independence from the UK in 1956.  Civil war has continued to devastate the Sudanese for more than two decades.  The wars are ongoing due to the northern arab economic, political, and social domination of the southern non-muslim, non-arab Sudanese.

      The current ruling party in Sudan consists of military elite and an Islamic party that gained power in 1989 during a coup.  There is an anti-government alliance made up of northern opposition and southern rebels.  Several peace talks and cease fires have taken place over the years, but they are short-lived.

   Many overwhelming developmental challenges exist such as recurrent conflict, human rights abuses, ethnic and religious conflict, high rates of illiteracy, limited access to education, high child mortality rates, infectious diseases and the emerging threat of HIV/AIDS epidemic.  (Click here to read about WER and Sudan).