Sudan - between the Arab World and Black Africa
The Sudan is considered to be a transitional country between the Arab World and Black Africa. The two countries, the Republic of Sudan and Southern Sudan, are strongly linked with one another. Southern Sudan separated from the North after a referendum and became independent on 9 July 2011. The challenge for both countries was tremendous. The North had to do without the income from oil production because most of the oil fields are in Southern Sudan. The Southern Sudan is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. On Christmas 2013 a political power struggle exploded within the ruling party. From this developed a brutal ethnic conflict, in which thousands have lost their lives. In similar fashion a civil war has been raging in Northern Sudan for years, mainly in Darfur, Southern Kordofan (Nuba Mountains) and the Blue Nile region.
