Sudan vs. Libya
Introduction
Sudan | Libya | |
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Background | The region along the Nile River south of Egypt has long been referred to as Nubia. It was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma, which flourished for about a millennium (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., a Kingdom of Kush emerged and regained the region's independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the fourth century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia, the latter two endured until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries much of Sudan was settled by Arab nomads, and between the 16th-19th centuries it underwent extensive Islamization. Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century was overthrown by a native Mahdist Sudan state (1885-99) that was crushed by the British who then set up an Anglo-Egyptian Sudan - nominally a condominium, but in effect a British colony. Following South Sudan's independence, conflict broke out between the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states (together known as the Two Areas), resulting in a humanitarian crisis affecting more than a million people. A earlier conflict that broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003, displaced nearly 2 million people and caused thousands of deaths. While some repatriation has taken place, about 1.83 million IDPs remain in Sudan as of May 2019. Fighting in both the Two Areas and Darfur between government forces and opposition has largely subsided, however the civilian populations are affected by low-level violence including inter-tribal conflict and banditry, largely a result of weak rule of law. The UN and the African Union have jointly commanded a Darfur peacekeeping operation (UNAMID) since 2007, but are slowly drawing down as the situation in Darfur becomes more stable. Sudan also has faced refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and denial of access by both the government and armed opposition have impeded the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations. However, Sudan's new transitional government has stated its priority to allow greater humanitarian access, as the food security and humanitarian situation in Sudan worsens and as it appeals to the West for greater engagement. | Berbers have inhabited central north Africa since ancient times, but the region has been settled and ruled by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Vandals. In the the 7th century, Islam spread through the region; in the mid-16th century, Ottoman rule began. The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when they were defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership and began to espouse his political system at home, which was a combination of socialism and Islam. During the 1970s, QADHAFI used oil revenues to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversive and terrorist activities that included the downing of two airliners - one over Scotland, another in Northern Africa - and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically following the attacks; sanctions were lifted in 2003 following Libyan acceptance of responsibility for the bombings and agreement to claimant compensation. QADHAFI also agreed to end Libya's program to develop weapons of mass destruction, and he made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. Unrest that began in several Middle Eastern and North African countries in late 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in early 2011. QADHAFI's brutal crackdown on protesters spawned a civil war that triggered UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community. After months of seesaw fighting between government and opposition forces, the QADHAFI regime was toppled in mid-2011 and replaced by a transitional government known as the National Transitional Council (NTC). In 2012, the NTC handed power to an elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC). Voters chose a new parliament to replace the GNC in June 2014 - the House of Representatives (HoR), which relocated to the eastern city of Tobruk after fighting broke out in Tripoli and Benghazi in July 2014. In December 2015, the UN brokered an agreement among a broad array of Libyan political parties and social groups - known as the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). Members of the Libyan Political Dialogue, including representatives of the HoR and GNC, signed the LPA in December 2015. The LPA called for the formation of an interim Government of National Accord or GNA, with a nine-member Presidency Council, the HoR, and an advisory High Council of State that most ex-GNC members joined. The LPA's roadmap for a transition to a new constitution and elected government was subsequently endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2259, which also called upon member states to cease official contact with parallel institutions. In January 2016, the HoR voted to approve the LPA, including the Presidency Council, while voting against a controversial provision on security leadership positions and the Presidency Council's proposed cabinet of ministers. In March 2016, the GNA Presidency Council seated itself in Tripoli. In 2016, the GNA twice announced a slate of ministers who operate in an acting capacity, but the HoR did not endorse the ministerial list. The HoR and defunct-GNC-affiliated political hardliners continued to oppose the GNA and hamper the LPA's implementation. In September 2017, UN Special Representative Ghassan SALAME announced a new roadmap for national political reconciliation. SALAME's plan called for amendments to the LPA, a national conference of Libyan leaders, and a constitutional referendum and general elections. In November 2018, the international partners supported SALAME's recalibrated Action Plan for Libya that aimed to break the political deadlock by holding a National Conference in Libya in 2019 on a timeline for political transition. The National Conference was delayed following a failure of the parties to implement an agreement mediated by SALAME in Abu Dhabi on February 27, and the subsequent military action by Khalifa HAFTAR's Libyan National Army against GNA forces in Tripoli that began in April 2019. |
Geography
Sudan | Libya | |
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Location | north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea | Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria |
Geographic coordinates | 15 00 N, 30 00 E | 25 00 N, 17 00 E |
Map references | Africa | Africa |
Area | total: 1,861,484 sq km land: 1,731,671 sq km water: 129,813 sq km | total: 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US | about 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly larger than Alaska |
Land boundaries | total: 6,819 km border countries (7): Central African Republic 174 km, Chad 1403 km, Egypt 1276 km, Eritrea 682 km, Ethiopia 744 km, Libya 382 km, South Sudan 2158 km note: Sudan-South Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei region pending negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan | total: 4,339 km border countries (6): Algeria 989 km, Chad 1050 km, Egypt 1115 km, Niger 342 km, Sudan 382 km, Tunisia 461 km |
Coastline | 853 km | 1,770 km |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north |
Climate | hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November) | Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior |
Terrain | generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north | mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions |
Elevation extremes | highest point: Jabal Marrah 3,042 m lowest point: Red Sea 0 m mean elevation: 568 m | highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m mean elevation: 423 m |
Natural resources | petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower | petroleum, natural gas, gypsum |
Land use | agricultural land: 100% (2018 est.) arable land: 15.7% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 84.2% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 8.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 7.6% (2018 est.) forest: 0.1% (2018 est.) other: 91.1% (2018 est.) |
Irrigated land | 18,900 sq km (2012) | 4,700 sq km (2012) |
Natural hazards | dust storms and periodic persistent droughts | hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms |
Environment - current issues | water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and periodic drought; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity
| desertification; limited natural freshwater resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, brings water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities; water pollution is a significant problem; the combined impact of sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste threatens Libya's coast and the Mediterranean Sea |
Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Law of the Sea |
Geography - note | the Nile is Sudan's primary water source; its major tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, meet at Khartoum to form the River Nile which flows northward through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea | note 1: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert note 2: the volcano Waw an Namus lies in south central Libya in the middle of the Sahara; the caldera is an oasis - the name means "oasis of mosquitoes" - containing several small lakes surrounded by vegetation and hosting various insects and a large diversity of birds |
Total renewable water resources | 37.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 700 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Population distribution | with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan, which extends into the dry Sahara, is sparsely populated; more abundant vegetation and broader access to water increases population distribution in the south extending habitable range along nearly the entire border with South Sudan; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and througout South Darfur as shown on this population distribution map | well over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and lack of surface water as shown in this population distribution map |
Demographics
Sudan | Libya | |
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Population | 46,751,152 (July 2021 est.) | 7,017,224 (July 2021 est.) note: immigrants make up just over 12% of the total population, according to UN data (2019) |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 42.01% (male 9,726,937/female 9,414,988) 15-24 years: 20.94% (male 4,852,903/female 4,687,664) 25-54 years: 29.89% (male 6,633,567/female 6,986,241) 55-64 years: 4.13% (male 956,633/female 923,688) 65 years and over: 3.03% (male 729,214/female 649,721) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 33.65% (male 1,184,755/female 1,134,084) 15-24 years: 15.21% (male 534,245/female 513,728) 25-54 years: 41.57% (male 1,491,461/female 1,373,086) 55-64 years: 5.52% (male 186,913/female 193,560) 65 years and over: 4.04% (male 129,177/female 149,526) (2020 est.) |
Median age | total: 18.3 years male: 18.1 years female: 18.5 years (2020 est.) | total: 25.8 years male: 25.9 years female: 25.7 years (2020 est.) |
Population growth rate | 2.55% (2021 est.) | 1.76% (2021 est.) |
Birth rate | 33.63 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 22.23 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Death rate | 6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 3.46 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Net migration rate | -1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
Infant mortality rate | total: 43.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 48.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 37.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 11.48 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
Life expectancy at birth | total population: 66.79 years male: 64.58 years female: 69.11 years (2021 est.) | total population: 76.93 years male: 74.68 years female: 79.29 years (2021 est.) |
Total fertility rate | 4.66 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 3.13 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.2% (2020 est.) | 0.1% (2020) |
Nationality | noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese | noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan |
Ethnic groups | unspecified Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Fallata | Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Maltese, Pakistani, Tunisian, and Turkish) |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 49,000 (2020 est.) | 9,500 (2020) |
Religions | Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority | Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist 0.3%, Hindu <0.1, Jewish <0.1, folk religion <0.1, unafilliated 0.2%, other <0.1 (2010 est.) note: non-Sunni Muslims include native Ibadhi Muslims (<1% of the population) and foreign Muslims |
HIV/AIDS - deaths | 2,300 (2020 est.) | <100 (2020) |
Languages | Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur major-language sample(s): ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ????????? ???????? (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) | Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Berber (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq) major-language sample(s): ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ????????? ???????? (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 60.7% male: 65.4% female: 56.1% (2018) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91% male: 96.7% female: 85.6% (2015) |
Food insecurity | severe localized food insecurity: due to conflict, civil insecurity, and soaring food prices - the number of severely food insecure people was estimated at 9.8 million in the June-September 2021 period, due to flood-induced livelihood losses sustained in 2020, soaring food prices and inter-communal conflict; the main drivers are macro-economic challenges resulting in rampant food and non-food inflation, the lingering impact of 2020 widespread floods on livelihoods and the escalation of inter-communal violence in western Greater Darfur Region and in eastern South Kordofan, North Kordofan and Blue Nile states (2021) | severe localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity, economic and political instability, and high food prices - an estimated 1.3 million people (23% of the population) are in need of humanitarian assistance of which 700,000 require food assistance; half of the people in need of humanitarian assistance are internally displaced or migrants that are residing in, or transiting through, the country (2021) |
Education expenditures | NA | NA |
Urbanization | urban population: 35.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 81% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
Drinking water source | improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 80.7% of population total: 87% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 19.3% of population total: 13% of population (2017 est.) | improved: total: 98.5% of population unimproved: total: 1.5% of population (2017 est.) |
Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 72.1% of population rural: 30.6% of population total: 44.9% of population unimproved: urban: 27.9% of population rural: 69.4% of population total: 55.1% of population (2017 est.) | improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
Major cities - population | 5.989 million KHARTOUM (capital), 967,000 Nyala (2021) | 1.170 million TRIPOLI (capital), 919,000 Misratah, 836,000 Benghazi (2021) |
Maternal mortality rate | 295 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 72 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 33% (2014) | 11.7% (2014) |
Physicians density | 0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2017) | 2.09 physicians/1,000 population (2017) |
Hospital bed density | 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 6.6% (2014) | 32.5% (2016) |
Contraceptive prevalence rate | 12.2% (2014) | 27.7% (2014) |
Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 76.9 youth dependency ratio: 70.4 elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 potential support ratio: 15.4 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 47.7 youth dependency ratio: 41 elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 potential support ratio: 15 (2020 est.) |
Government
Sudan | Libya | |
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Country name | conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Sudan etymology: the name "Sudan" derives from the Arabic "bilad-as-sudan" meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]" | conventional long form: State of Libya conventional short form: Libya local long form: Dawiat Libiya local short form: Libiya etymology: name derives from the Libu, an ancient Libyan tribe first mentioned in texts from the 13th century B.C. |
Government type | presidential republic | in transition |
Capital | name: Khartoum geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: several explanations of the name exist; two of the more plausible are that it is derived from Arabic "al-jartum" meaning "elephant's trunk" or "hose," and likely referring to the narrow strip of land extending between the Blue and White Niles; alternatively, the name could derive from the Dinka words "khar-tuom," indicating a "place where rivers meet" | name: Tripoli (Tarabulus) geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: originally founded by the Phoenicians as Oea in the 7th century B.C., the city changed rulers many times over the successive centuries; by the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. the region around the city was referred to as Regio Tripolitana by the Romans, meaning "region of the three cities" - namely Oea (i.e., modern Tripoli), Sabratha (to the west), and Leptis Magna (to the east); over time, the shortened name of "Tripoli" came to refer to just Oea, which derives from the Greek words "tria" and "polis" meaning "three cities" |
Administrative divisions | 18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Blue Nile, Central Darfur, East Darfur, Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Northern, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan, White Nile note: the peace accord signed in October 2020 included a protocol to restructure the country's current 18 provinces/states into eight regions | 22 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat); Al Butnan, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jabal al Gharbi, Al Jafarah, Al Jufrah, Al Kufrah, Al Marj, Al Marqab, Al Wahat, An Nuqat al Khams, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi (Benghazi), Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus (Tripoli), Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati |
Independence | 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK) | 24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship) |
National holiday | Independence Day, 1 January (1956) | Liberation Day, 23 October (2011) |
Constitution | history: previous 1973, 1998; 2005 (interim constitution, which was suspended in April 2019); latest initial draft completed by Transitional Military Council in May 2019; revised draft known as the "Draft Constitutional Charter for the 2019 Transitional Period," was signed by the Council and opposition coalition on 4 August 2019 amendments: amended 2020 to incorporate the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan | history: previous 1951, 1977; in July 2017, the Constitutional Assembly completed and approved a draft of a new permanent constitution; in September 2018, the House of Representatives passed a constitutional referendum law in a session with contested reports of the quorum needed to pass the vote, and submitted it to the High National Elections Commission in December to begin preparations for a constitutional referendum |
Legal system | mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law; note - in mid-July 2020, Sudan amended 15 provisions of its 1991 penal code | Libya's post-revolution legal system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities |
Suffrage | 17 years of age; universal | 18 years of age, universal |
Executive branch | chief of state: president (vacant); note - in August 2019, the ruling military council and civilian opposition alliance signed a power-sharing deal as the "Sovereignty Council," chaired by General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman and consisting of 6 civilians and 5 generals; the Council is currently led by the military but is intended to transition to civilian leadership in May 2021 until elections can be held; General BURHAN serves as both chief of state and head of government head of government: president (vacant); note - in August 2019, the ruling military council and civilian opposition alliance signed a power-sharing deal as the "Sovereignty Council," chaired by General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman and consisting of 6 civilians and 5 generals; the Council is currently led by the military but is intended to transition to civilian leadership in May 2021 until elections can be held (Abd-al-Rahman) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister (2019) elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed; last held on 13-16 April 2015 (next to be held in 2022 at the end of the transitional period); prime minister typically appointed by the president; note - the position of prime minister was reinstated in December 2016 as a result of the 2015-16 national dialogue process, and President al-BASHIR appointed BAKRI Hassan Salih to the position on 2 March 2017; on 21 August 2019, the Forces for Freedom and Change, the civilian opposition alliance, named Abdallah HANDOUK as prime minister of Sudan for the transitional period election results: Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (NCP) 94.1%, other (15 candidates) 5.9% | chief of state: Chairman, Presidential Council, Mohammed Al MENFI (since 5 February 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Abdul Hamid DBEIBEH (since 5 February 2021) cabinet: GNA Presidency Council (pending approval by the House of Representatives - as of December 2018) elections/appointments: direct presidential election to be held pending election-related legislation and constitutional referendum law election results: on 5 February 2021, a UN-led forum elected - in a runoff - Mohammed Al MENFI chairman, Presidential Council and Abdul Hamid DBEIBEH, prime minister |
Legislative branch | description: according to the August 2019 Constitutional Decree, which established Sudan's transitional government, the Transitional Legislative Council (TLC) will serve as the national legislature during the transitional period until elections can be held in 2022; as of early December 2019, the TLC had not been established elections: Council of State - last held 1 June 2015 election results: Council of State - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 35, women 19, percent of women 35.2% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NCP 323, DUP 25, Democratic Unionist Party 15, other 44, independent 19; composition - men 296 women 130, percent of women 30.5%; note - total National Legislature percent of women 31% | description: unicameral House of Representatives (Majlis Al Nuwab) or HoR (200 seats including 32 reserved for women; members directly elected by majority vote; member term NA); note - the High Council of State serves as an advisory group for the HoR elections: last held on 25 June 2014 ( next election to be held on 24 December 2021); note - the Libyan Supreme Court in November 2014 declared the HoR election unconstitutional, but the HoR and the international community rejected the ruling election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 158, women 30, percent of women 16%; note - only 188 of the 200 seats were filled in the June 2014 election because of boycotts and lack of security at some polling stations; some elected members of the HoR also boycotted the election |
Judicial branch | highest courts: National Supreme Court (consists of 70 judges organized into panels of 3 judges and includes 4 circuits that operate outside the capital); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 justices including the court president); note - the Constitutional Court resides outside the national judiciary judge selection and term of office: National Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council, which replaced the National Judicial Service Commission upon enactment of the Draft Constitutional Charter for the 2019 Transitional Period subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; other national courts; public courts; district, town, and rural courts | highest courts: NA; note - government is in transition |
Political parties and leaders | Democratic Unionist Party or DUP [Jalal al-DIGAIR] Democratic Unionist Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI] Federal Umma Party [Dr. Ahmed Babikir NAHAR] Muslim Brotherhood or MB National Congress Party or NCP (in November 2019, Sudan's transitional government approved a law to "dismantle" the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir, including the dissolution of his political party, the NCP) National Umma Party or NUP [Saddiq al-MAHDI] Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan al-TURABI] Reform Movement Now [Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin al-ATABANI]Sudan National Front [Ali Mahmud HASANAYN] Sudanese Communist Party or SCP [Mohammed Moktar Al-KHATEEB] Sudanese Congress Party or SCoP [Ibrahim Al-SHEIKH] Umma Party for Reform and Development Unionist Movement Party or UMP | NA |
International organization participation | ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) | ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BDEAC, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Nureldin Mohamed Hamed SATTI (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406 email address and website: consular@sudanembassy.org https://www.sudanembassy.org/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Wafa M.T. BUGHAIGHIS (since 29 November 2017) chancery: 1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012 telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601 FAX: [1] (202) 944-9606 email address and website: info@embassyoflibyadc.com https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/ |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Brian SHUKAN (since October 2019) embassy: P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum mailing address: 2200 Khartoum Place, Washington DC 20521-2200 telephone: [249] 187-0-22000 email address and website: ACSKhartoum@state.gov https://sd.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Richard B. NORLAND (since 22 August 2019) embassy: Sidi Slim Area/Walie Al-Ahed Road, Tripoli (temporarily closed) mailing address: 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850 telephone: [216] 71-107-000 email address and website: LibyaACS@state.gov https://ly.usembassy.gov/ note: the US Embassy in Tripoli closed in July 2014 due to fighting near the embassy related to Libyan civil unrest; embassy staff and operations temporarily first relocated to Valetta, Malta and currently are temporarily relocated to Tunis, Tunisia |
Flag description | three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; colors and design based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I, but the meanings of the colors are expressed as follows: red signifies the struggle for freedom, white is the color of peace, light, and love, black represents the people of Sudan (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity | three horizontal bands of red (top), black (double width), and green with a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe; the National Transitional Council reintroduced this flag design of the former Kingdom of Libya (1951-1969) on 27 February 2011; it replaced the former all-green banner promulgated by the QADHAFI regime in 1977; the colors represent the three major regions of the country: red stands for Fezzan, black symbolizes Cyrenaica, and green denotes Tripolitania; the crescent and star represent Islam, the main religion of the country |
National anthem | name: "Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land) lyrics/music: Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN note: adopted 1956; originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military | name: Libya, Libya, Libya lyrics/music: Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB note: also known as "Ya Beladi" or "Oh, My Country!"; adopted 1951; readopted 2011 with some modification to the lyrics; during the QADHAFI years between 1969 and 2011, the anthem was "Allahu Akbar," (God is Great) a marching song of the Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War |
International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2008 | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICC |
National symbol(s) | secretary bird; national colors: red, white, black, green | star and crescent, hawk; national colors: red, black, green |
Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sudan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Libya dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: varies from 3 to 5 years |
Economy
Sudan | Libya | |
---|---|---|
Economy - overview | Sudan has experienced protracted social conflict and the loss of three quarters of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan. The oil sector had driven much of Sudan's GDP growth since 1999. For nearly a decade, the economy boomed on the back of rising oil production, high oil prices, and significant inflows of foreign direct investment. Since the economic shock of South Sudan's secession, Sudan has struggled to stabilize its economy and make up for the loss of foreign exchange earnings. The interruption of oil production in South Sudan in 2012 for over a year and the consequent loss of oil transit fees further exacerbated the fragile state of Sudan's economy. Ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan, Darfur, and the Blue Nile states, lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture, keep close to half of the population at or below the poverty line. Sudan was subject to comprehensive US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. Sudan is attempting to develop non-oil sources of revenues, such as gold mining and agriculture, while carrying out an austerity program to reduce expenditures. The world's largest exporter of gum Arabic, Sudan produces 75-80% of the world's total output. Agriculture continues to employ 80% of the work force. Sudan introduced a new currency, still called the Sudanese pound, following South Sudan's secession, but the value of the currency has fallen since its introduction. Khartoum formally devalued the currency in June 2012, when it passed austerity measures that included gradually repealing fuel subsidies. Sudan also faces high inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012 but fell to about 35% per year in 2017. (2017) | Libya's economy, almost entirely dependent on oil and gas exports, has struggled since 2014 given security and political instability, disruptions in oil production, and decline in global oil prices. The Libyan dinar has lost much of its value since 2014 and the resulting gap between official and black market exchange rates has spurred the growth of a shadow economy and contributed to inflation. The country suffers from widespread power outages, caused by shortages of fuel for power generation. Living conditions, including access to clean drinking water, medical services, and safe housing have all declined since 2011. Oil production in 2017 reached a five-year high, driving GDP growth, with daily average production rising to 879,000 barrels per day. However, oil production levels remain below the average pre-Revolution highs of 1.6 million barrels per day. The Central Bank of Libya continued to pay government salaries to a majority of the Libyan workforce and to fund subsidies for fuel and food, resulting in an estimated budget deficit of about 17% of GDP in 2017. Low consumer confidence in the banking sector and the economy as a whole has driven a severe liquidity shortage. |
GDP (purchasing power parity) | $168.28 billion (2019 est.) $172.601 billion (2018 est.) $176.646 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $102.842 billion (2019 est.) $100.298 billion (2018 est.) $87.115 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
GDP - real growth rate | 1.4% (2017 est.) 3% (2016 est.) 1.3% (2015 est.) | 64% (2017 est.) -7.4% (2016 est.) -13% (2015 est.) |
GDP - per capita (PPP) | $3,958 (2019 est.) $4,161 (2018 est.) $4,363 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $15,174 (2019 est.) $15,018 (2018 est.) $13,238 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 39.6% (2017 est.) industry: 2.6% (2017 est.) services: 57.8% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 1.3% (2017 est.) industry: 52.3% (2017 est.) services: 46.4% (2017 est.) |
Population below poverty line | 46.5% (2009 est.) | note: about one-third of Libyans live at or below the national poverty line |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.7% (2009 est.) | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 50.2% (2019 est.) 62.8% (2018 est.) 32.5% (2017 est.) | 28.5% (2017 est.) 25.9% (2016 est.) |
Labor force | 11.92 million (2007 est.) | 1.114 million (2017 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 80% industry: 7% services: 13% (1998 est.) | agriculture: 17% industry: 23% services: 59% (2004 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 19.6% (2017 est.) 20.6% (2016 est.) | 30% (2004 est.) |
Budget | revenues: 8.48 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 13.36 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 15.78 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 23.46 billion (2017 est.) |
Industries | oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling | petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement |
Industrial production growth rate | 4.5% (2017 est.) | 60.3% (2017 est.) |
Agriculture - products | sugar cane, sorghum, milk, groundnuts, onions, sesame seed, goat milk, millet, bananas, wheat | potatoes, watermelons, tomatoes, onions, dates, milk, olives, wheat, poultry, vegetables |
Exports | $4.1 billion (2017 est.) $3.094 billion (2016 est.) | $18.38 billion (2017 est.) $11.99 billion (2016 est.) |
Exports - commodities | gold, crude petroleum, sesame seeds, sheep, goats, cotton, ground nuts (2019) | crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, refined petroleum, scrap iron (2019) |
Exports - partners | United Arab Emirates 31%, China 19%, Saudi Arabia 14%, India 12%, Egypt 5% (2019) | Italy 18%, China 16%, Germany 15%, Spain 15%, United Arab Emirates 6%, France 6%, United States 5% (2019) |
Imports | $8.22 billion (2017 est.) $7.48 billion (2016 est.) | $11.36 billion (2017 est.) $8.667 billion (2016 est.) |
Imports - commodities | raw sugar, wheat, packaged medicines, jewelry, tires, cars and vehicle parts (2019) | refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, cigarettes, jewelry (2019) |
Imports - partners | China 31%, India 14%, United Arab Emirates 11%, Egypt 6% (2019) | China 16%, Turkey 14%, Italy 9%, United Arab Emirates 9%, Egypt 5% (2019) |
Debt - external | $56.05 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $51.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $3.02 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.116 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
Exchange rates | Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar - 6.72 (2017 est.) 6.14 (2016 est.) 6.14 (2015 est.) 6.03 (2014 est.) 5.74 (2013 est.) | Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.413 (2017 est.) 1.3904 (2016 est.) 1.3904 (2015 est.) 1.379 (2014 est.) 1.2724 (2013 est.) |
Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
Public debt | 121.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 99.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 4.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 7.5% of GDP (2016 est.) |
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $198 million (31 December 2017 est.) $168.3 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $74.71 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $66.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
Current Account Balance | -$4.811 billion (2017 est.) -$4.213 billion (2016 est.) | $2.574 billion (2017 est.) -$4.575 billion (2016 est.) |
GDP (official exchange rate) | $24.918 billion (2019 est.) | $52.259 billion (2019 est.) |
Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 44.8 (2020) Starting a Business score: 76.7 (2020) Trading score: 19 (2020) Enforcement score: 47.8 (2020) | Overall score: 32.7 (2020) Starting a Business score: 73.1 (2020) Trading score: 64.7 (2020) Enforcement score: 48.4 (2020) |
Taxes and other revenues | 18.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 51.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -10.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -25.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 32.6% male: 27.4% female: 43.5% (2011 est.) | total: 48.7% male: 40.8% female: 67.8% (2012 est.) |
GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 77.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 5.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.6% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 9.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -11.8% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 71.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 19.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 2.7% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.3% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -33.8% (2017 est.) |
Gross national saving | 43.7% of GDP (2018 est.) 29.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 12.2% of GDP (2015 est.) | 5% of GDP (2017 est.) -9% of GDP (2016 est.) -25.1% of GDP (2015 est.) |
Energy
Sudan | Libya | |
---|---|---|
Electricity - production | 13.99 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 34.24 billion kWh (2016 est.) note: persistent electricity shortages have contributed to the ongoing instability throughout the country |
Electricity - consumption | 12.12 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 27.3 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2015 est.) |
Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 376 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Oil - production | 95,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 1.039 million bbl/day (2018 est.) |
Oil - imports | 9,440 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - exports | 19,540 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 337,800 bbl/day (2015 est.) note: Libyan crude oil export values are highly volatile because of continuing protests and other disruptions across the country |
Oil - proved reserves | 5 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 48.36 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
Natural gas - proved reserves | 84.95 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 1.505 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 9.089 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 4.446 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 4.644 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Electricity - installed generating capacity | 3.437 million kW (2016 est.) | 9.46 million kW (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from fossil fuels | 44% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 51% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from other renewable sources | 6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - production | 94,830 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 89,620 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - consumption | 112,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 260,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - exports | 8,541 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 16,880 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - imports | 24,340 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 168,200 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Electricity access | electrification - total population: 47% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 71% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 35% (2019) | electrification - total population: 100% (2019) |
Telecommunications
Sudan | Libya | |
---|---|---|
Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 137,842 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 1,618,511 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23.95 (2019 est.) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 33,014,160 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74.46 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 6,182,105 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91.48 (2019 est.) |
Internet country code | .sd | .ly |
Internet users | total: 13,311,404 percent of population: 30.87% (July 2018 est.) | total: 1,440,859 percent of population: 21.76% (July 2018 est.) |
Telecommunication systems | general assessment: well-equipped system by regional standards with ongoing upgrades; despite economic challenges, government continues to boost mobile infrastructure through build-out of fiber-broadband network across country; economic climate has not encouraged client growth in telecom, but some investment has been made to build mobile towers and expand LTE services; growth of e-money services; 2020 launch of Chinese-based satellite to develop space technology sector; interim constitution safeguards rights and freedoms, though some Internet users continue to face harassment for activities; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and China (2021) (2020)domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; teledensity fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 77 telephones per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 249; landing points for the EASSy, FALCON and SAS-1,-2, fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking Africa, the Middle East, Indian Ocean Islands and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: political and security instability in Libya has disrupted its telecom sector, as warring factions make mobile towers a target and construction workers regularly cut cables by mistake; much of its infrastructure remains superior to that in most other African countries; rival operators fight for control; investment in fiber backbone and upgrades to international cables; limited LTE and 5G service; some satellite broadband; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE and video displays from China (2021) (2020)domestic: 24 per 100 fixed-line and 91 per 100 mobile-cellular subscriptions; service generally adequate (2019) international: country code - 218; landing points for LFON, EIG, Italy-Libya, Silphium and Tobrok-Emasaed submarine cable system connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, Arabsat, and Intersputnik; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 32,762 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) | total: 168,920 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2017 est.) |
Broadcast media | the Sudanese Government directly controls TV and radio, requiring that both media reflect government policies; TV has a permanent military censor; a private radio station is in operation (2019) | state-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio (2019) |
Transportation
Sudan | Libya | |
---|---|---|
Roadways | total: 31,000 km (2019) paved: 8,000 km (2019) unpaved: 23,000 km (2019) urban: 1,000 km (2019) | total: 37,000 km (2010) paved: 34,000 km (2010) unpaved: 3,000 km (2010) |
Pipelines | 156 km gas, 4070 km oil, 1613 km refined products (2013) | 882 km condensate, 3743 km gas, 7005 km oil (2013) |
Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Port Sudan | major seaport(s): Marsa al Burayqah (Marsa el Brega), Tripoli oil terminal(s): Az Zawiyah, Ra's Lanuf LNG terminal(s) (export): Marsa el Brega |
Merchant marine | total: 15 by type: other 15 (2020) | total: 94 by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 12, other 80 (2020) |
Airports | total: 67 (2020) | total: 146 (2013) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 17 (2020) over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 | total: 68 (2017) over 3,047 m: 23 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 30 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2017) under 914 m: 1 (2017) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 50 (2020) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 9 | total: 78 (2013) over 3,047 m: 2 (2013) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 37 (2013) under 914 m: 20 (2013) |
Heliports | 7 (2020) | 2 (2013) |
National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 42 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 269,958 (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 55 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 927,153 (2018) |
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | ST | 5A |
Military
Sudan | Libya | |
---|---|---|
Military branches | Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Ground Force, Navy, Sudanese Air Force; Rapid Support Forces (RSF, paramilitary); Reserve Department (formerly the paramilitary Popular Defense Forces) (2020) the RSF is an autonomous paramilitary force formed in 2013 to fight armed rebel groups in Sudan, with Mohammed Hamdan DAGALLO (aka Hemeti) as its commander (he is also Deputy Chairman of the Sovereignty Council), from the remnants of the Janjaweed militia that participated in suppressing the Darfur rebellion; it was initially placed under the National Intelligence and Security Service, then came under the direct command of former president Omar al-BASHIR, who boosted the RSF as his own personal security force; the RSF has been accused of committing rights abuses against civilians; it is also reportedly involved in business enterprises, such as gold mining; in late 2019, Sovereignty Council Chairman and SAF Commander-in-Chief General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN said the RSF would be fully integrated into the SAF, but did not give a timeline | note - in transition; the Government of National Accord (GNA) has various ground, air, and naval/coast guard forces under its command; the forces are comprised of a mix of semi-regular military units, militias, civilian volunteers, and foreign troops and mercenaries forces under Khalifa HAFTER, known as the Libyan National Army (LNA), also include various ground, air, and naval units comprised of semi-regular military personnel, militias, and foreign troops and mercenaries (2020) |
Military - note | in October 2020, after almost a year of negotiations, Sudan's transitional government and a broad alliance of armed rebel groups known as the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) signed a peace agreement; the SRF rebels had operated in Darfur, South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile provinces; under the agreement, SRF fighters are to be slowly incorporated into joint units with government security forces over a period of 39 months; however, two rebel groups - the Darfur-based Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), which controls territory in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile provinces, are not part of the agreement; in March 2021, the Sudanese Government and the SPLM-N agreed to re-start peace talks the Sudanese military and security forces reportedly control over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; UNISFA had about 3,800 personnel deployed as of July 2021in addition, the United Nations African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) operated in the war-torn Darfur region since 2007 until its mission was completed in mid-2021; UNAMID was a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force with the mission of bringing stability to Darfur, including protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, and promoting mediation efforts, while peace talks on a final settlement continued; in July 2021, UNAMID entered a year-long liquidation phase in which it will maintain a guard unit consisting of about 360 police to protect UN personnel, facilities, and assets inside the El Fasher Logistics Base; Sudanese joint security forces will continue to be deployed outside the base and assist the remaining UN contingent with securing its perimeter; note - the October 2020 peace agreement provided for the establishment of a joint security force comprised of 12,000 members tasked with securing the Darfur region in the place of UNAMID; in June 2021, Sudan's transitional government announced it would increase the size of this force to 20,000 and expand its mission scope to include the capital and other parts of the country suffering from violence; the force would include the SAF, RSF, police, intelligence, and representatives from armed groups involved in peace negotiations | as of the Fall of 2020, there were at least 10,000 foreign mercenaries and proxy forces estimated to be deployed in Libya to bolster both GNA- and LNA-aligned forces (2020) |
Military and security service personnel strengths | information varies widely, ranging from about 100,000 to more than 200,000 active personnel, including approximately 1,500 Navy and 3,000 Air Force; est. 30-40,000 paramilitary Rapid Support Forces; est. 20,000 Reserve Department (formerly the paramilitary Popular Defense Forces) (2020) note: in August 2020, Sudan and the major rebel group Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) signed an agreement to integrate the group's fighters into the Sudanese Army by the end of 2023 | not available |
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the SAF's inventory includes a mix of Chinese, Russian, Soviet-era, Ukrainian, and domestically-produced weapons systems; since 2010, the leading arms providers to the SAF are Belarus, China, Russia, and Ukraine; Sudan has a domestic arms industry that manufactures ammunition, small arms, and armored vehicles, largely based on older Chinese and Russian systems (2020) | both the forces of the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army are largely equipped with weapons of Russian or Soviet origin; as of 2020, Russia, Turkey, and the UAE were reportedly providing weapons and military equipment to the forces in Libya (2020) |
Transnational Issues
Sudan | Libya | |
---|---|---|
Disputes - international | the effects of Sudan's ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-20th century have penetrated all of the neighboring states; Chad wishes to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia; as of early 2019, more than 590,000 Sudanese refugees are being hosted in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan; Sudan, in turn, is hosting more than 975,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including more than 845,000 from South Sudan; Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Sudan claims but Egypt de facto administers security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic; South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei Area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan | dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya |
Refugees and internally displaced persons | refugees (country of origin): 776,427 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 125,115 (Eritrea) (refugees and asylum seekers), 93,494 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 67,550 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 27,350 (Central African Republic) (2021) IDPs: 2,276,000 (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2020) | refugees (country of origin): 15,971 (Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 14,412 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2021) IDPs: 245,483 (conflict between pro-QADHAFI and anti-QADHAFI forces in 2011; post-QADHAFI tribal clashes 2014) (2021) |
Trafficking in persons | current situation: Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; traffickers exploit homeless children and unaccompanied migrant children from West and Central Africa in forced labor for begging, public transportation, large markets, and in sex trafficking; business owners, informal mining operators, community members, and farmers exploit children in brick-making factories, gold mining, collecting medical waste, street vending, and agriculture; children are exposed to threats, physical and sexual abuse, and hazardous working conditions; criminal groups exploit Sudanese women and girls from rural areas in domestic work and in sex trafficking; Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a semi-autonomous paramilitary branch of the government, recruited child soldiers; Eritrean, Ethiopian, and other Africans refugees at government encampments risk exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities prosecuted more suspected traffickers and launched an awareness campaign; the government streamlined its national anti-trafficking mechanism and focused resources on the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking; a national action plan was drafted, finalized, and approved; Sudanese Armed Forces officials launched a unit for child protection efforts in conflict areas and trained more than 5,000 members of its military on child protection issues; however, the Rapid Support Forces, a semi-autonomous paramilitary branch of the government, recruited child soldiers; the government has not developed a system to identify, demobilize, and rehabilitate victims; officials' denial of trafficking, smuggling, and kidnapping for ransom impeded anti-trafficking efforts; investigations and convictions of trafficking crimes decreased; Sudan was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3; Sudan remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year (2020) | current situation: Libya is a destination and transit country for men and women from Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; migrants who seek employment in Libya as laborers and domestic workers or who transit Libya en route to Europe are vulnerable to forced labor; private employers also exploit migrants from detention centers as forced laborers on farms and construction sites, returning them to detention when they are no longer needed; some Sub-Saharan women are reportedly forced to work in Libyan brothels, particularly in the country's south; since 2013, militia groups and other informal armed groups, including some affiliated with the government, are reported to conscript Libyan children under the age of 18; large-scale violence driven by militias, civil unrest, and increased lawlessness increased in 2014, making it more difficult to obtain information on human trafficking tier rating: Tier 3 - the Libyan Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government's capacity to address human trafficking was hampered by the ongoing power struggle and violence; the judicial system was not functioning, preventing any efforts to investigate, prosecute, or convict traffickers, complicit detention camp guards or government officials, or militias or armed groups that used child soldiers; the government failed to identify or provide protection to trafficking victims, including child conscripts, and continued to punish victims for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked; no public anti-trafficking awareness campaigns were conducted (2015) |
Environment
Sudan | Libya | |
---|---|---|
Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 20 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 75.1 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 44.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 50.56 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 45.76 megatons (2020 est.) |
Total water withdrawal | municipal: 950 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 75 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 25.91 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 700 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 280 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 4.85 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 3.01% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,831,291 tons (2015 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,147,596 tons (2011 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook