Sudan is Africa's largest country. It straddles the Nile River and the Nuba Mountains are in the center of the country. War has made the large agricultural and mineral resources largely unexploited. Southern Sudan has been devastated by genoice and famine. The whole country is impoverished. Much of the substantial oil income has been used for weaponry.
From 1899-1956 Sudan was under joint Egyptian and British control. From 1955-1972 there was bitter war between Arab northerners and non-Arab southerners. This was followed for an uneasy peace and continued fighting in 1983 with the north seeking to enforce Islam on the south. As of 2001 only major southern towns and the oil pipeline remain under government control.
In 1983 Sudan was declared an Islamic Republic in violation of a 1972 peace accord with the southerners. Great persecution has occurred in the south with killings, bulldozing of churches and other discriminations. Sudanese Christians endure some of the worst persecution in the world, being 5th on the world persecution index.
- Other statistics:
- 2 Million lives lost as a result of civil war between Muslim North and Christian South
- 200,000 have been kidnapped and sold as slaves
- Persecution has increased with churches being bombed
- Many orphans and shortages of food as well as medical needs.
- 132 languages, Arabic the official language
- 65% Muslim, 23% Christian
- There are approximately 260 missionaries to Sudan and 65 Missionaries from Sudan
- Whole Bible available in 7 languages, New Testament available in 15 languages, parts of Bible being translated in 21 languages
