Sudan in Brief

Geography

Located in North Africa, Sudan is geographically the largest country in Africa with approximately 1 million square miles (roughly the size of the U.S. east of the Mississippi). Sudan shares borders with nine countries including Egypt to the North. The Nile River and its tributaries dominate the country, with deserts in the North and a more tropical climate in the South.

Population

Sudan has approximately 34.5 million people from as many as 400 different ethnic groups. The North is dominated by Arabic-speaking Muslims. In the South, at least 100 different languages are spoken, and most southern Sudanese follow indigenous beliefs or have become Christians.

Education

Currently all curricula follow a strict Islamic model in the Arabic language. In the South, education was formerly offered in English. In the past, boys might have been sent into towns for education, while rural females learned domestic responsibilities in prepara-tion for a good marriage and childbearing. At this time, because of war, government neglect, and the lack of supplies and trained teachers, few schools remain open, and two generations of southern Sudanese children have not received education (USCR, 1999).

Health Care

Although medical care in Sudan is, in principle, free, there are not enough trained professionals, clinics, hospitals, or medicines. Traditional healing arts continue to be practiced. Health care in the South is basically non-existent, and very few people have access to clean water.

Economy

Four out of five Sudanese make their living either farming, raising livestock, or both. In southern Sudan, food production is the single activity that absorbs the energy of the people. Women tend to the farming and domestic chores, while males hold responsibility for grazing and herding. The civil war has destroyed much of the economy in the South and caused significant loss of people, cattle, and crops. Rudimentary subsistence is all that exists in the South.

In the past 20 years, many young Sudanese have moved into the Khartoum/Obdurman area in search of jobs or to escape from war. Low wages and expensive housing make life in the city difficult for the approximately 5 million people living there. Often, families depend on income from relatives working abroad.

Sudan in Conflict

Since independence in 1956, Sudan has been at war with itself. There was a brief peace in the 1970s until the early 1980s. USCR states that the root causes of the conflict are multiple and should not be oversimplified. There is racial tension between black southerners and Arab northerners. Religion pits the Muslims in the North against Christians in the South. Northern government forces fight southern rebel forces. There has always been inter-tribal conflict in the South, and the North has fomented more conflict by providing arms. The South has continually struggled for autonomy from the North.

In the early 1980s, a combination of factors destabilized Sudan's brief peace. First, an austerity program was imposed to satisfy IMF loan requirements and to counter a huge financial deficit. A hotly contested canal project with Egypt planned to divert more water to the North and further limit potential in the South. A critical change was the imposition of strict Islamic law and the use of the Arabic language throughout the country. All these factors were exacerbated by a severe drought in 1983 that caused famine and massive displacement.

The conflict has been incredibly complex and lengthy. Many people have been enslaved. All sides have been known to commit violations such as conscripting child soldiers, raiding and attacking civilian populations. People are ambushed as they flee, and there seems to be "no safe place." Most sources agree, however, that the government and its allies bear the largest responsibility for the continual suffering.

Sudanese in Refuge

For the Sudanese, the flight for safety has been continual, as many have had to flee from one region or one country to another. Most who will be resettled in the United States are Dinka, Nuer, people of the Nuba Mountains or Udok. Many will be coming from either Egypt or Kenya. In Kenya, there are an estimated 66,000 in Kakuma Camp alone. There are also thousands of Sudanese refugees under UNHCR protection in Egypt.

In the fall of 2000 and throughout 2001, approximately 3,600 Sudanese youth and young adults (majority Dinka) from Kakuma will be resettled across the U.S. As many as 30,000—40,000 children originally fled on foot to Ethiopia in the late 1980s–a journey that took as long as 4 months. In 1991-92, they were forcibly returned to Sudan, then traveled on foot to northern Kenya. Those who survived the arduous treks have spent at least 7 years in Kakuma.

In many ways, life in the camp has been like that in any other African village, with the youth living in clusters that serve a family-like function. It should be noted that most are male, but there is a small number of females. Since they have lived apart from families for most of their lives, the unaccompanied minors and young adults have not taken part in many of the traditional southern Sudanese cultural traditions (e.g., scarification, owning cattle, learning domestic skills from mothers).

Education has been an important part of refugee assistance in Kakuma, with more than 30 schools serving more than 33,000 students. Child welfare workers note that the Sudanese youth generally have very high expectations about education, which is seen as a "recovery strategy"–a way to take back control over their lives.

Sudanese Society and Diet

The southern Sudanese come from a very patriarchal society, with clearly prescribed roles for men and women. Cooperation within the group is critical, and it is taboo to promote one's self interest above the community interests. For the Dinka and Nuer, marriages are usually arranged, and dowries play a major role for an entire extended family.

The southern Sudanese diet is similar to that of its African neighbors. Milk, lamb, chicken, rice, and vegetables are key ingredients. Food is often served from a common dish and eaten with flat bread. For dessert, Sudanese like fruit and crème caramel (also known as flan). Sudanese are known for their unique preparation of coffee.

Sudanese in Resettlement

Reports on the Sudanese usually note that they are an extremely resilient group. Many of the males will have some knowledge of English or Arabic. For the women, learning English is often cited as the most important need. One Sudanese case manager said that the most important cultural note for the Sudanese is to learn the importance of time in the U.S. (e.g., making and keeping appointments and following schedules). A Nuer source said the Sudanese do not accept the concept of "no." Yet, resettlement staff have noted that the Sudanese do learn about the limits imposed on them "when all efforts at negotiation fail."

Their expectations are high. A Sudanese worker said that the Priority Two and Unaccompanied Minor refugees "are so used to humanitarian aid and the style of relief workers, that they may think everyone in the U.S. will want to help them, too." Employment will be the first priority of the P-2 Sudanese young adults. The unaccompanied minors will receive foster care case management and education services according to state and local regulations.

Resettlement workers suggest that both the URMs and the young adults will benefit from training in lifeskills, and they will need help in setting realistic goals, managing time, making decisions and maintaining a positive attitude. They recommend getting the Sudanese involved in group activities and connected to community resources.

A child welfare specialist working in Kakuma identified the following recurring themes among the Sudanese youth:

1. Role of education in restoring power and in replacing parents
2. Belief that trust in God helped them to escape
3. Desire to be educated so they can return to Sudan to help their people
4. Among girls, a resistance toward arranged marriages

Recommended Resources

Finnegan, William. (1999). The invisible war. The New Yorker: January 25, 1999, pp. 50-73.

Gray-Fisher. (1994). Infogram on the Democratic Republic of the Sudan. Des Moines: Iowa Department of Human Services, Bureau of Refugee Services.

Lee, Cecelia. (Ed.). (1998). Sudan–A cultural profile. Toronto: University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work (AMNI Centre).

Sharp End. ( ). Lost boys, Kenya (Kakuma). Great Britain: 6-minute video synopsis on the Sudanese youth.

Simons, Ann. (1999, February 3). Lost boys of Sudan look west. Los Angeles Times, p A1.

U.S. Committee for Refugees. (1999). Sudan–Personal stories of Sudan's uprooted people. Washington, DC: U.S. Committee for Refugees.

U.S. Committee for Refugees. (2000). World refugee survey 2000. Washington, DC: U.S. Committee for Refugees.

Zutt, Johannes. (1994). Children of war: Wandering alone in southern Sudan. New York: United Nations Children's Fund.

Internet Sites

http://www.sudan.net (Facts on Sudan)
http://www.unicef.org
http://www.usip.org/library/regions/sudan.html (Sudan conflict web links)

Credits

Thanks to the staff from the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) who identified many of the outstanding resources from which this Culture Profile was prepared. LIRS Resettlement and Children's Staff members were extremely helpful in providing first-hand information. Moses Akol (ECDC) and Jeff Drumtra (USCR) provided essential suggestions for the final document.

This Culture Profile was compiled by the Center for Applied Linguistics under a cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Refugee Programs of the U.S. Department of State. The material appearing herein does not necessarily represent the policy of that agency, nor the endorsement of the federal government.