History of Sudan in Timeline
Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in Northeast Africa with a population of 50 million and an area of 1,886,068 square kilometers. It is Africa's third-largest country by area and the third-largest in the Arab League. Khartoum is its capital and most populous city. Sudan borders several countries including the Central African Republic, Chad, Libya, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. It was the largest country in Africa and the Arab League until South Sudan seceded in 2011.
1905: Sultan Yambio Ends Struggle
In 1905, local chieftain Sultan Yambio gave up the struggle with British forces.
1914: Sir Reginald Wingate Occupies Sudan
With a formal end to Ottoman rule in 1914, Sir Reginald Wingate was sent that December to occupy Sudan as the new Military Governor.
1924: British Policy of Separate Territories
From 1924 until independence, the British had a policy of running Sudan as two essentially separate territories, the north and south.
1925: Formation of the Sudan Defence Force
Formed in 1925, the Sudan Defence Force played an active part in responding to incursions early in World War Two.
1927: Death of Saad Zaghloul
In 1927, Saad Zaghloul died, having been frustrated in his ambitions for a single Egyptian-Sudanese state.
1928: Peak in Sudanese Government Revenue
In 1928, the Sudanese Government's revenue had reached a peak at £6.6 million.
July 1936: Signing of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty
In July 1936, the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty was signed in London.
1940: Italian Troops Occupied Kassala
In 1940, Italian troops occupied Kassala and other border areas from Italian Somaliland during World War Two.
1942: Invasion of Italian colony by British and Commonwealth forces
In 1942, the SDF also played a part in the invasion of the Italian colony by British and Commonwealth forces during World War Two.
1951: Party to Refugee Convention
Sudan is a party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
1952: Egyptian Revolution
In 1952, the Egyptian Revolution toppled the monarchy and demanded the withdrawal of British forces from Egypt and Sudan.
1953: Egypt Abolished Monarchy
Having abolished the monarchy in 1953, Egypt's new leaders, Mohammed Naguib, whose mother was Sudanese, and later Gamal Abdel Nasser, believed the only way to end British domination in Sudan was for Egypt to officially abandon its claims of sovereignty.
January 1956: Raising of the Sudanese Flag
On 1 January 1956, in a special ceremony held at the People's Palace, the Egyptian and British flags were lowered and the new Sudanese flag was raised in their place.
January 1956: Sudan Declared an Independent State
On January 1956, Sudan was declared an independent state after years of shared sovereignty with Egypt and Britain.
1956: Post-Independence Documentary Tradition
After Sudan's independence in 1956, a vigorous documentary film tradition was established.
1956: Independence of Sudan
From 1924 until independence in 1956, the British had a policy of running Sudan as two essentially separate territories.
May 1969: Coup d'état Led by Col. Gaafar Nimeiry
On 25 May 1969, a coup d'état occurred, and the coup leader, Col. Gaafar Nimeiry, became prime minister.
July 1971: Briefly Successful Coup Led by Sudanese Communist Party
In July 1971, disputes resulted in a briefly successful coup, led by the Sudanese Communist Party.
1972: Addis Ababa Agreement
In 1972, the Addis Ababa Agreement led to a cessation of the north–south civil war and a degree of self-rule.
1972: Sudanese Government Export Plans
In 1972, the Sudanese government became more pro-Western and made plans to export food and cash crops.
1976: Unsuccessful coup attempt by the Ansars
In 1976, the Ansars mounted a bloody but unsuccessful coup attempt.
July 1977: President Nimeiry Met with Ansar Leader
In July 1977, President Nimeiry met with Ansar leader Sadiq al-Mahdi, opening the way for a possible reconciliation.
1978: IMF Structural Adjustment Program
In 1978, the IMF negotiated a Structural Adjustment Program with the government of Sudan.
September 1983: Introduction of Sharia Law
In September 1983, President Jaafar Nimeiri introduced Sharia law in Sudan, known as September laws.
1983: Imposition of Sharia Law
Beginning in 1983, with the imposition of strict Salafi interpretation of sharia law, many Sudanese poets and artists were imprisoned, and traditional music was suppressed.
1983: Civil war and famine
Since 1983, a combination of civil war and famine has taken the lives of nearly two million people in Sudan.
1983: Sudan Census
The 1983 census recorded the total population of Sudan, including present-day South Sudan, at 21.6 million.
1984: Islamic Economy
In early 1984, Sudan instated an Islamic economy, eliminating interest and instituting Zakat, and Nimeiri declared himself the imam of the Sudanese Umma in 1984.
June 1989: Military Coup Led by Omar al-Bashir
On 30 June 1989, Colonel Omar al-Bashir led a bloodless military coup.
1989: Military Dictatorship Led by Omar al-Bashir
From 1989, a 30-year-long military dictatorship led by Omar al-Bashir ruled Sudan and committed widespread human rights abuses.
1990: Education Ladder Change
In 1990, the Sudanese educational ladder changed from 6 + 3 + 3.
1991: Public Order Law
Due to the 1991 penal code (Public Order Law), women were not allowed to wear trousers in public, because it was interpreted as an "obscene outfit".
October 1993: Al-Bashir Appointed Himself President
On 16 October 1993, al-Bashir appointed himself "President" and disbanded the Revolutionary Command Council.
1996: General Election
In the 1996 general election, Al-Bashir was the only candidate by law to run for election.
2000: Al-Turabi Introduced a Bill to Reduce the President's Powers
Before the 2000 presidential election, al-Turabi introduced a bill to reduce the President's powers.
2000: Agriculture remains the main source of income
While historically agriculture remains the main source of income and employment hiring of over 80 percent of Sudanese, and makes up a third of the economic sector, oil production drove most of Sudan's post-2000 growth.
2001: Endangered Species
As of 2001, twenty-one mammal species and nine bird species were endangered in Sudan, in addition to two plant species.
2001: World Bank Estimate of Primary Enrollment
In 2001, the World Bank estimated that primary enrollment was 46 percent of eligible pupils and 21 percent of secondary students in Sudan.
2002: Researchers left the country
According to UNESCO, more than 3,000 Sudanese researchers left the country between 2002 and 2014.
2002: Sentenced to death
In 2002, 88 people were sentenced to death in Sudan for crimes related to murder, armed robbery, and ethnic clashes, with Amnesty International reporting they could be executed by hanging or crucifixion.
2003: Ethnic Genocide in Darfur
From 2003 to 2020, the military dictatorship led by Omar al-Bashir committed ethnic genocide in Darfur.
2003: Return of Mohammed Wardi
In 2003, Mohammed Wardi returned to Sudan from exile in Cairo.
2003: Foreign relations centered on ending the Second Sudanese Civil War
Since 2003, Sudan's foreign relations had centred on the support for ending the Second Sudanese Civil War and condemnation of government support for militias in the war in Darfur.
February 2004: Eastern Front Formation
In February 2004, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA)'s role in the Eastern Front was taken over by the merger of the Fulani and Beja Congress with the Rashaida Free Lions.
2004: Human-rights abuses existed since 2004
In August 2006, a Human Rights Watch letter found that the Sudanese government human-rights abuses have existed since 2004.
2004: Darfur crisis
Since the Darfur crisis in 2004, the Sudanese government has prioritized defense against armed resistance from groups such as the SPLA, SLA, and JEM, with an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 deaths from the conflict.
January 2005: Signing of the Nairobi Comprehensive Peace Agreement
On 9 January 2005, the government signed the Nairobi Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).
December 2005: Recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara
In December 2005, Sudan recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
2005: Official Languages
In the 2005 constitution, Sudan's official languages became Arabic and English.
2005: Naivasha Agreement
The 2005 Naivasha Agreement, ending the civil war between north and south Sudan, established some protections for non-Muslims in Khartoum.
May 2006: Darfur Peace Agreement
On May 5, 2006, the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed, aiming to end the ongoing conflict in the region.
August 2006: Human Rights Watch Letter
In August 2006, a Human Rights Watch letter stated that the Sudanese government is incapable of protecting its own citizens in Darfur and unwilling to do so, and that its militias are guilty of crimes against humanity.
October 2006: Sudanese Government and Eastern Front Peace Agreement
In October 2006, a peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the Eastern Front was signed in Asmara.
March 2007: U.S. State Department human-rights report
The U.S. State Department's human-rights report issued in March 2007 claimed that all parties to the conflagration committed serious abuses, including widespread killing of civilians, rape as a tool of war, systematic torture, robbery and recruitment of child soldiers.
May 2007: Sudan and Chad Agreement
On May 3, 2007, Sudan and Chad's leaders signed an agreement in Saudi Arabia to stop the Darfur conflict from spreading along their border.
July 2007: Devastating Floods
In July 2007, Sudan was hit by devastating floods, directly affecting over 400,000 people.
2007: Economic Boom
With rising oil revenues, the Sudanese economy was booming in 2007, with a growth rate of about nine percent.
2008: Child soldiers in Darfur
According to UNICEF, in 2008, there were as many as 6,000 child soldiers in Darfur.
2008: Sudan Census
In the 2008 census, the population of northern, western, and eastern Sudan was recorded to be over 30 million.
2009: GDP growth
According to a World Bank report, the overall growth in Sudan's GDP in 2009 was 4.2 percent.
2009: Sentences to Death by Stoning
Between 2009 and 2012, several women were sentenced to death by stoning in Sudan.
2009: Percentage of population lives on less than US$3.20 per day
In 2009, 43% of the population lives on less than US$3.20 per day.
2009: Woman Fined for Wearing Trousers
In 2009, a Sudanese woman found guilty of wearing trousers was fined the equivalent of 200 U.S. dollars.
2009: Proposal for Unified Sudanese Sign Language
In 2009, a proposal for a unified Sudanese Sign Language was developed.
2009: Conflicts Between Nomadic Tribes
Starting in 2009, a series of ongoing conflicts between rival nomadic tribes in Sudan and South Sudan resulted in numerous civilian casualties.
2010: GDP growth
According to a World Bank report, the overall growth in Sudan's GDP in 2010 was 5.2 percent compared to 2009 growth of 4.2 percent.
2010: Considered 17th-fastest-growing economy in the world
In 2010, Sudan was considered the 17th-fastest-growing economy in the world.
July 2011: South Sudan gained independence
In July 2011, South Sudan gained independence, placing most major oil fields out of the Sudanese government's direct control.
2011: Islam Adherence After South Sudan Division
Following the 2011 division that split off South Sudan, over 97% of the population in the remaining Sudan adhered to Islam.
2011: Secession of South Sudan
In 2011, South Sudan seceded from Sudan, making Sudan the third-largest country in Africa and the Arab League by area.
2011: Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile
In 2011, the Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile started as a dispute over the oil-rich region of Abyei, leading up to South Sudanese independence.
2011: Referring to Sudan as North Sudan
Since 2011, Sudan is also sometimes referred to as North Sudan to distinguish it from South Sudan.
2011: Referendum Resulted in Secession of South Sudan
The 2011 referendum was a result of a unanimous vote in favour of secession of South Sudan.
August 2012: Agreement between Sudan and South Sudan
In August 2012, Sudan and South Sudan agreed to a deal to transport South Sudanese oil through Sudanese pipelines to Port Sudan.
2012: Sentences to Death by Stoning
Between 2009 and 2012, several women were sentenced to death by stoning in Sudan.
2012: Call for an African Space Agency
In 2012, Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir called for the establishment of an African Space Agency, although these plans were never finalized.
2012: Heglig Crisis
In 2012, during the Heglig Crisis, Sudan achieved victory against South Sudan in a war over oil-rich regions.
2013: UNICEF report on female genital mutilation
According to a 2013 UNICEF report, 88% of women in Sudan had undergone female genital mutilation.
2013: Global Hunger Index
According to the Global Hunger Index of 2013, Sudan has an GHI indicator value of 27.0 indicating that the nation has an 'Alarming Hunger Situation.'
2013: Number of researchers per citizens
By 2013, Sudan had a mere 19 researchers for every 100,000 citizens, or 1/30 the ratio of Egypt, according to the Sudanese National Centre for Research.
2013: End of the Sudanese Intifada
In 2013, the Sudanese Intifada ended after al-Bashir promised he would not seek re-election in 2015.
August 2014: Deaths in Custody
In August 2014, several Sudanese men died in custody after being flogged.
2014: Researchers left the country
According to UNESCO, more than 3,000 Sudanese researchers left the country between 2002 and 2014.
2014: Slowed GDP growth
Due to the secession of South Sudan, which contained about 75 percent of Sudan's oilfields, GDP growth slowed to 3.4 percent in 2014.
2014: Percentage of population lives on less than US$3.20 per day
In 2014, 45% of the population lives on less than US$3.20 per day, up from 43% in 2009.
2014: Press freedom rankings
In 2014, Reporters Without Borders' freedom of the press rankings placed Sudan at 172th of 180 countries.
2014: Oil production decreased
Oil production in Sudan decreased after South Sudan independence, but production has since recovered to hover around 250,000 barrels per day (40,000 m/d) for 2014–15.
2015: Human Development Index
According to the 2015 Human Development Index (HDI) Sudan ranked the 167th place in human development, indicating Sudan still has one of the lowest human development rates in the world.
2015: Al-Bashir Re-election
In 2015, Al-Bashir broke his promise and sought re-election, winning through a boycott from the opposition.
2015: Participation in Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
In 2015, Sudan participated in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen against the Shia Houthis and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
2015: Sudan published only about 500 scientific papers
In 2015, Sudan published only about 500 scientific papers.
2015: GDP growth slowed
In 2015, Sudan's GDP growth slowed to 3.1 percent.
2015: Gold Production
In 2015, Sudan's gold production was 82 metric tons.
2016: Projected GDP growth
In 2016, Sudan's GDP was projected to recover slowly to 3.7 percent while inflation remained as high as 21.8% as of 2015.
2016: Infant Mortality Rate
In 2016, Sudan's infant mortality rate was 44.8 per 1,000.
January 2017: Obama Lifts Sanctions
On January 13, 2017, US President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order lifting many sanctions against Sudan and its government's assets held abroad.
October 2017: Trump Lifts Remaining Sanctions
On October 6, 2017, US President Donald Trump lifted most of the remaining sanctions against Sudan and its petroleum, export-import, and property industries.
2017: Wagner Group Operating in Sudan
Since 2017, the Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor, has been operating in Sudan.
2017: GDP Decline
Sudan's GDP fell from US$123.053 billion in 2017 to US$40.852 billion in 2018.
December 2018: Massive Protests Begin
On December 19, 2018, massive protests erupted in Sudan following a government decision to triple the price of goods amid economic hardship.
2018: Human Rights Watch report
In 2018, a Human Rights Watch report revealed that Sudan has made no meaningful attempts to provide accountability for past and current violations, documenting human rights abuses against civilians in Darfur, southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile.
2018: Protests Demanding Bashir's Resignation
In 2018, protests erupted in Sudan, demanding Bashir's resignation.
2018: National beach volleyball team competed
Sudan's national beach volleyball team competed at the 2018–2020 CAVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in both the women's and the men's section.
April 2019: Successful launch of Arabsat 6A
In April 2019, Arabsat 6A, a private-sector ground surveying satellite operating above Sudan, was successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Center.
April 2019: Military Coup
In April 2019, President Omar al-Bashir's regime was overthrown in a military coup led by Vice President Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf.
April 2019: Coup d'état
In April 2019, Sudan experienced a coup d'état which preceded its suspension from the African Union in June.
April 2019: Overthrow of al-Bashir
On April 11, 2019, President al-Bashir's government was overthrown after a massive sit-in in front of the Sudanese Armed Forces headquarters.
April 2019: Coup d'état and Bashir's Imprisonment
On April 2019, a coup d'état resulted in Bashir's imprisonment after protests.
June 2019: Suspension from the African Union
In June 2019, Sudan was suspended from the African Union due to a lack of progress towards establishing a civilian-led transitional authority following the coup d'état in April.
July 2019: Joint letter to the UNHRC defending China's treatment of Uyghurs
In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including Sudan, signed a joint letter to the UNHRC defending China's treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region.
July 2019: Political Agreement
In July 2019, the Forces for Freedom and Change and the Transitional Military Council signed the July 2019 Political Agreement.
August 2019: Refugee Population in Sudan
According to UNHCR statistics, in August 2019, more than 1.1 million refugees and asylum seekers resided in Sudan, primarily from South Sudan, Eritrea and Syria.
August 2019: Interim constitution signed
In August 2019, following the ousting of al-Bashir, the interim constitution was signed in Sudan with no mention of Sharia law.
August 2019: Transitional Government
In August 2019, transitional institutions were established, including a joint military-civilian Sovereignty Council and the appointment of Abdalla Hamdok as Prime Minister on August 21, 2019.
August 2019: Constitutional Declaration
On August 4, 2019, a new Constitutional Declaration was signed between the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change.
September 2019: Official National League for Women's Football
Since September 2019, there has been an official national league for women's football clubs in Sudan.
2019: Life Expectancy
In 2019, Sudan had a life expectancy of 65.1 years.
2019: Basis for Political Transition
In 2019, it was stipulated that a 2019 constitutional declaration continued to be the basis for a political transition.
July 2020: Homosexuality no longer a capital offence
As of July 2020, homosexuality was no longer a capital offence in Sudan, with the highest punishment being life imprisonment.
July 2020: Abolishment of apostasy law
On July 12, 2020, Sudan abolished the apostasy law, public flogging, and alcohol ban for non-Muslims, and criminalized female genital mutilation.
September 2020: Accord between transitional government and rebel group leadership
In September 2020, an accord was signed between the transitional government and rebel group leadership in Sudan, officially separating the state and religion, ending three decades of Islamic law rule.
October 2020: Normalization of ties with Israel
On 23 October 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Sudan will start to normalize ties with Israel, making it the third Arab state to do so as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords.
2020: Ethnic Genocide in Darfur
From 2003 to 2020, the military dictatorship led by Omar al-Bashir committed ethnic genocide in Darfur.
2020: Sudan Becomes a Secular State
In 2020, Sudan became a secular state, ending the application of Islamic laws that began in 1983.
2020: National beach volleyball team competed
Sudan's national beach volleyball team competed at the 2018–2020 CAVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in both the women's and the men's section.
August 2021: Joint Leadership
As of August 2021, Sudan was jointly led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok.
September 2021: Failed Coup Attempt
On September 21, 2021, the Sudanese government announced a failed coup d'état attempt by the military, leading to the arrest of 40 officers.
October 2021: Military Coup
On October 25, 2021, a military coup led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan deposed the civilian government, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and declared a state of emergency.
November 2021: Formation of Army-Backed Government
On November 11, 2021, General Burhan, the leader of the coup, formed a new army-backed government.
November 2021: Hamdok Reinstated as Prime Minister
On November 21, 2021, Abdalla Hamdok was reinstated as prime minister following a political agreement with Burhan.
2021: Reversal of press freedom
Following a brief period of press freedom after al-Bashir's ousting in 2019, the leaders of a 2021 coup quickly reversed these changes.
2021: Participation in Arab Women's Cup
In 2021, the Sudan women's national football team participated for the first time in the Arab Women's Cup, held in Cairo, Egypt.
2021: Escalation of dispute over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
In 2021, the dispute between Sudan and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam escalated.
January 2022: Hamdok Resigns
On January 2, 2022, Hamdok resigned from the position of Prime Minister.
February 2022: Sudanese envoy visit to Israel
In February 2022, a Sudanese envoy visited Israel to promote ties between the countries.
March 2022: Detentions and Casualties
By March 2022, over 1,000 people had been detained for opposing the coup, with numerous allegations of rape and deaths reported.
June 2022: Patricia Seif El Din El Haj photographed
In June 2022, Patricia Seif El Din El Haj, the first Sudanese woman wrestler to participate in an African championship, was photographed as she got ready to travel to Nigeria to prepare for the 2024 Summer Olympic games.
April 2023: Power Struggles
In April 2023, power struggles escalated between army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Hemedti, head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
April 2023: Civil War Erupts
On April 15, 2023, conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces escalated into a civil war in Khartoum.
December 2023: Displacement and Casualties
As of December 29, 2023, over 5.8 million people were internally displaced and more than 1.5 million had fled the country as refugees.
2023: Least Democratic Country
According to 2023 V-Dem Democracy indices Sudan is 6th least democratic country in Africa.
2023: Crackdowns after beginning of the Sudanese Civil War
Additional journalistic crackdowns occurred after the beginning of the 2023 Sudanese civil war, according to Reporters Without Borders.
2023: Reignited fighting and international embassy shutdowns
In the early months of 2023, fighting reignited in Sudan, primarily between the military forces of Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leading to the shutdown of U.S. and European embassies and attempted evacuations.
February 2024: Food Insecurity
In February 2024, a World Food Programme report indicated that over 95% of Sudan's population could not afford a meal a day due to the ongoing war.
April 15, 2024: International Conference on Sudan
On April 15, 2024, France is hosting an international conference on Sudan, marking the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of war, calling for global support amid a humanitarian and political crisis.
April 2024: UN Report on Displacement and Hunger
As of April 2024, the United Nations reported that more than 8.6 million people in Sudan have been forced out of their homes, while 18 million are facing severe hunger.
May 2024: Estimated Death Toll
In May 2024, US government officials estimated that at least 150,000 people had died in the war in Sudan in the past year alone.
May 2024: Conference on Humanitarian Crisis
On May 31, 2024, a conference was held in the US House of Representatives to address Sudan's humanitarian crisis.
2024: Sudan's population in 2024
As of 2024, Sudan has a population of 50 million people.
2024: Human Development Index Ranking
As of 2024, Sudan ranks 170th on the Human Development Index.
2024: Preparation for Summer Olympic games
In June 2022, Patricia Seif El Din El Haj, the first Sudanese woman wrestler to participate in an African championship, was photographed as she got ready to travel to Nigeria to prepare for the 2024 Summer Olympic games.
2025: Projected Humanitarian Aid Needs
The latest report presented to the UN states that 2025 will see 30.4 million people in Sudan in need of humanitarian aid, due to the military conflict in the country.
