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Sudan Census
·
On April 22,
2008 in
Sudan, a
national
census, a
vital step
in the
ending of
years of
civil war,
began.
·
In
the war-torn
west of the
country,
Darfur's
rebel groups
are united
in
opposition
against the
census.
·
The chairman
of the rebel
Sudan
Liberation
Movement and
commander in
chief of the
Sudan
Liberation
Army in
Darfur,
Ahmed
Abdelshafi
Toba, has
warned they
will try to
stop the
count going
ahead.
·
The census
will help
determine
the way
power and
wealth is
shared
between
Sudan's
north and
the oil-rich
south ahead
of next
year's
national
polls.
·
The census
was a key
part of the
peace deal
signed in
2005,
but the
South says
it will not
be bound by
the outcome.
·
In the
troubled
western
Darfur
region, many
are refusing
to take part
in the count
and rebel
groups are
opposing it.
·
From the
outset, the
census has
shown the
ongoing
distrust
between the
two former
enemies from
north and
south, who
are now
joined in a
national
coalition
government,
supposedly
as partners
in peace
·
It has not
helped that
much of the
Comprehensive
Peace
Agreement
is still to
be
implemented
- like
demarcating
the exact
border
between
north and
south and
the status
of the
disputed
oil-rich
region of
Abyei.
·
Sudan:
Factor-file
-
Sudan is
the
largest
country
in
Africa.
-
It is
one of
the most
diverse
countries
in
Africa,
home to
deserts,
mountain
ranges,
swamps
and rain
forests.
o
Apart from
an 11-year
period of
peace, it
has been
torn by
civil war
between the
mainly
Muslim north
and the
Animist and
Christian
south since
independence
in 1956.
o
Talks aimed
at ending
the conflict
were held in
Kenya in
2003 and
2004.
 Population:
33.6
million
(UN,
2003)
-
Capital:
Khartoum
-
Area:
2.5m
sq km
(966,757
sq
miles)
-
Major
languages:
Arabic;
Nubian,
others
-
Monetary
unit:
1
dinar =
10
Sudanese
pounds
-
Main
exports:
Oil,
cotton,
sesame,
livestock
and
hides,
gum
arabic
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