Sudanese

Sudanese refers to people connected with Sudan. The term can denote nationality (a citizen of Sudan) or ethnicity or cultural identity. Sudan is a country in Northeast Africa, bordered by Egypt, the Red Sea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Chad, and Libya. Its capital is Khartoum, and its population is diverse, including urban communities along the Nile and in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, and the eastern regions.

Sudanese society is multiethnic and multilingual. Major ethnolinguistic groups include Arab-speaking communities in the north and east, and Nilotic groups such as the Dinka and Nuer in the south and east, along with non-Arab groups like the Fur, Beja, Masalit, and Zaghawa in Darfur and the western regions. Arabic is the lingua franca; Sudanese Arabic is widely spoken. English is an official language used in government and education. The population is predominantly Muslim, with Christian and traditional beliefs among communities in the south and western regions.

Historically, the area hosts ancient civilizations such as Kerma, Napata, and Meroë. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was ruled as part of the Anglo-Egyptian condominium, gaining independence in 1956. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw civil conflicts and, in 2011, the secession of South Sudan. Contemporary Sudanese culture features music, literature, and visual arts; cuisine includes kisra flatbread and stews, and coffee ceremonies are common in social life.

Today the country faces political and economic challenges, ongoing conflicts in Darfur and peripheral regions, and humanitarian concerns. The Sudanese diaspora is sizable, with communities in the Gulf, Europe, North America, and beyond. The term Sudanese thus denotes both citizens of Sudan and people of Sudanese origin, reflecting a diverse, multilingual, and historically layered national identity.