Sudan explained to kids

Sudan is a country located in northeastern Africa. Sudan is the third largest country in Africa, after Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The name Sudan comes from the Arabic word for "land of the blacks." Sudan is bordered by the Red Sea to the east, Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, and the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Ethiopia to the south. Sudan has an area of more than 2 million square kilometers (800,000 square miles). The capital of Sudan is Khartoum, which is also the largest city. Other major cities include Omdurman, Port Sudan, and Nyala. The official languages of Sudan are Arabic and English. The main religion is Islam. The economy of Sudan is mostly based on agriculture. Sudan is one of the world's leading producers of cotton. Other important crops include sorghum, millet, wheat, and peanuts. Sudan also has large deposits of petroleum and natural gas. Sudan has a population of more than 40 million people. The majority of the population is black, with Arabs making up a large minority. Other ethnic groups include Nubians, Beja, and Fur. The history of Sudan goes back to ancient times. Sudan was home to the kingdoms of Kush and Nubia. In the 1500s, Sudan was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. In the 1800s, Sudan was conquered by the British. Sudan gained independence from Britain in 1956. Since independence, Sudan has been plagued by civil wars and conflict. In recent years, Sudan has been split into two countries: Sudan and South Sudan.