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The Economy of Sudan: A Potential Breadbasket of the Arab World?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2009

Jack G. Kaikati
Jack G. Kaikati
Affiliation:
Southern Illinois University
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Extract

The Democratic Republic of the Sudan was among the first of nonsovereign territories in Africa to obtain its independence from European political control. Formerly under the joint sovereignty of Britain and Egypt it became independent on January 1, 1956. Since its declaration of independence, Sudan has experienced three major self-proclaimed revolutions, and the format of government has twice changed between parliamentary democracy and military regimes. As of this writing, the current government under General Jaʻafar el-Numayri has been in power longer than any of its predecessors. General Numayri's success in ending the sixteen-year-old civil war between north and south has bolstered his position as head of state. Consequently, this success and at least three other factors have induced the world to pay considerable attention to Sudan.

Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Middle East Studies , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , February 1980 , pp. 99 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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References

NOTES

1 Some general introduction to the history of Sudan can be found in the following sources: Arkell, A. J., A History of the Sudan from the Earliest Times to 1821 (London: University of London, 1961);Google ScholarCollins, Robert O. and Tignor, R. L., Egypt and the Sudan (New York: Prentice-Hall, 1967);Google ScholarGaspard, J., “The Sudan Revolution: Why It Happened,” New Middle East 10 (08 1969), 23–27;Google ScholarGray, Richard, History of Southern Sudan 1839–89 (London: Oxford University Press, 1961);Google ScholarHassan, Yusuf Fadl, The Arabs and the Sudan (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1967);Google Scholar and Shinnie, P. L., Meroe: A Civilization of the Sudan (New York: Prauger, 1967).Google Scholar

2 A British-styled parlimentary democracy existed from January 1, 1956, to November 17, 1958, when a group of army officers, headed by Lt. General Ibrahim Abbud, established a military regime and dissolved all political parties by decree. The Abbud regime remained in power until it in turn was overthrown in the wake of the “October 21” Revolution in 1964. Following a short transitional period leading to parliamentary elections, the new government returned to the multiparty system of the premilitary years. This arrangement lasted until May 25, 1969, when once again, a group of military officers led by Colonel Jaʻafar Numayri proclaimed a new revolution and outlawed all other political activities.

3 “Where Russia Lost a Foothold in Africa,” U.S. News and World Report, 01 12, 1976, pp. 62–63.Google Scholar

4 “Sudan Plans to Feed the Whole Arab World,” Middle East Economic Digest. 02 27, pp. 3–4.Google Scholar

5 Population Census 1955/56 (Khartoum: Sudan Government, Department of Statistics, 1956).Google Scholar

6 Population and Growth and Manpower in the Sudan, a joint study by the United Nations and the Government of the Sudan, New York, 1964.Google Scholar

7 Trimingham, J. S., Islam in the Sudan (London, 1949), p. 5.Google Scholar

8 Coetzee, J. H., “Sudan's Ethnic Groups,” Bulletin of the Africa Institute of South Africa, 9 (08 1971), 291–297.Google Scholar

9 The 15 provinces are (with their capitals given in parentheses): (1) Northern Province (Dongola); (2) Nile Province (El Dammer); (3) Red Sea Province (Port Sudan); (4) Kassala Province (Kassala); (5) Khartoum Province (Khartoum); (6) Northern Kordofan Province (El Obeid); (7) Southern Kordofan Province (Kadugli); (8) Northern Darfur Province (El Fasher); (9) Southern Darfur Province (Nyala); (10) White Nile Province (El Dueim); (11) Blue Nile Province (Damazein); (12) Gezira Province (Wad Medani); (13) Bahr El Ghazal Province (Wau); (14) Upper Nile Province (Malakal); (15) Equatoria Province (Juba).

10 Barbour, K. M., The Republic of The Sudan: A Regional Geography (London: University of London Press, 1961);Google Scholar and Lebon, J. H. G., “Land Use in Sudan,” World Land Use Survey Memoir, No. 4, 1965.Google Scholar

11 Hoagland, Jim, The Washington Post, 06 6, 1971.Google Scholar

12 Sultan, Atef, “Ambitious Development Programmes Put Pressure on Cement Supplies,” Middle East Economic Digest, 20 (05 28, 1976), 3–9.Google Scholar

13 Information on this agreement can be obtained from the Insurance Division, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, 1129 20th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20527.

14 Kaikati, Jack G., The Reincarnation of Barter Trade as a Marketing Tool,” Journal of Marketing, 40 (04 1976), 17–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

15 The Sudanese pound (£S) is the basic unit of currency. One Sudanese pound is the equivalent of 2.50 U.S. dollars. The Sudanese pound is divided into 100 piasters (PT) or 1,000 milliemes (M/Ms). Bank of Sudan notes in denominations of £S 10, £S 5, £S 1, PT 50 and PT 25 are legal tender up to any amount. Coins are legal tender for any payment up to PT 200 in value.

16 Kulkarni, R. G., Deficit Financing and Economic Development (New York: Asia Publishing House, 1966), p. 15.Google Scholar

17 Suliman, Ali Ahamed, “Deficit Finance and Economic Development in the Sudan,” The Journal of Modern African Studies, 11 (12 1973), 547–558.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

18 Bank of Sudan, Tenth Annual Report, 1969 (Khartoum, 1970), Appendix 10.Google Scholar