Sudan

Why in news?

• Sudan's military takes power in coup, arrests Prime Minister Hamdok.

More about the news:

• Since its independence from the British and Egyptian Colonial Rule in 1956, Sudan has seen famines, sectarian violence, and political crisis.
• Almost three years ago, tens of thousands of Sudanese rose against the regime of Omar al-Bashir in what they call a “revolution” that eventually led to the dictator’s fall in 2019.
• Ever since, the military and leaders of the civilian movement came together to form a transitional government.
• However recent coup by Sudan’s military has thrown the African country’s fragile transition from dictatorship to democracy into chaos.

About Sudan

• Sudan is situated in northern Africa, with a coastline bordering the Red Sea.
• It has land borders with Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Libya.
• The Blue Nile and White Nile rivers meet in Khartoum (Capital of Sudan) to form the Nile, which flows northwards through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.
• Sudan is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, African Union, COMESA, Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation.

Sudan’s Darfur region:

• The region was recently in news due to conflict between the nation’s dominant Arab rulers and the African ethnic communities demanding greater autonomy.
• Over 60 people were massacred in Sudan’s Darfur region in 2020. About 500 armed men targeted the Masalit community in west Darfur’s Masteri town. 

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following pairs:

Places in news         : Country

1. Darfur                   : Sudan

2. Khartoum             : Myanmar

3. Marib                   : Afghanistan

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

Answer