Port Sudan(Arabic:بور سودان,romanized:Būr Sūdān,Beja:Bar'uut) is a port city on theRed Seain easternSudan,and the capital ofRed Sea State.Port Sudan is Sudan's main seaport and the source of 90% of the country's international trade.[2]The population of Port Sudan was estimated in the 2008 Census of Sudan to be 394,561 people.[3]
Port Sudan
بور سودان Bar'uut | |
|---|---|
     Top: Port Sudan Skyline; Middle:Red Sea University,Port Sudan Harbour; Bottom: Port Sudan Post Office, Port Sudan Old Market | |
  Port Sudan Location in Sudan | |
| Coordinates:19°37′N37°13′E/ 19.617°N 37.217°E | |
| Country |  Sudan |
| State | Red Sea |
| Population (2024) | |
| •Metro | 531,000[1] |
Port Sudan has historically been a center for commercial activity, particularly in the shipping industry.[4]Due to thecivil war in the countrythat started in 2023, the military government has largely relocated to Port Sudan as a result ofintense fightingin the capital cityKhartoum,leading to it being described as ade factocapital of the country. Port Sudan also has emerged as a refuge forinternally displaced personsin Sudan.
History
editFounding and early history
editPort Sudan was built between 1905 and 1909 by the administration ofAnglo-Egyptian Sudanto replaceSuakin—the historic, coral-choked Arab port.[5]Anoil pipelinewas built between the port andKhartoumin 1977.
Early 21st century
editIn 2009, Israel allegedly used naval commandos to attack Iranian arms ships at Port Sudan as part ofOperation Birds of Prey.[6]In 2020, Russian presidentVladimir Putinannounced that theRussian Navywould begin construction on a base with capacity for 300 personnel and four warships in Port Sudan. The facility would provide Russia with a naval base in the nation for at least 25 years.[7]The plan was ultimately suspended, though Sudanese leadership has indicated that it is possible for the construction to go ahead in the future.[8]
In 2016, it was reported that residents of Port Sudan facewater scarcity.[9]Following theOctober–November 2021 Sudanese coup d'état,theBejatribal council initiated a weeklong blockade of the city's ports. Following negotiations with military officials, the blockade was lifted.[10]
Sudanese civil war (2023–present)
editDuring theSudanese civil war (2023–present),Port Sudan has emerged as a leading destination and refuge forinternally displaced personsfleeing war in other parts of the country.[4][11]Internally-displaced refugees in the city reportedly faceextreme heatand shortages of food and water.[12]
By late October 2023,Reutersreported that theRapid Support Forces(RSF) controlled most ofKhartoum,causing the government led by Abdul Fattah el-Burhan to have largely relocated to Port Sudan.[13]General Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces, "has threatened to establish a cabinet at the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, with the intention of creating an alternative or second capital."Hemedti,leader of the RSF, in turn, warned that this would lead to him declaring his own rival government based in Khartoum or another city he controlled. Analysts have raised concerns of a lasting split similar to that ofLibyaduring its civil wars.[14]Port Sudan has been described as becoming a "de facto"capital of Sudan.[15][16]
On 11 January 2025, celebrations took place through the city after the Sudanese armyrecaptured Wad Madani.[17][18][19]
Economy
edit
The city has an oil refinery and handles 90% of the country's international trade.[5][2]Major exports includeoilseed,senna,and hides and skins. Imports include construction materials, heavy machinery, and vehicles.
Transport
editThe city has a moderncontainer portto handle imports and exports.[5]The port is part of the21st Century Maritime Silk Roadthat runs from the Chinese coast via theSuez Canalto the Mediterranean, there to the Upper Adriatic region ofTriestewith its rail connections toCentralandEastern Europe.[20][21][22][23]
The main airport isPort Sudan New International Airport.There is now a tarred road linking Port Sudan to Khartoum via Atbara. Port Sudan also has a 1067mm gaugerail linkwithKhartoum.There is also an international ferry fromJeddah.[citation needed]
In 2023 a new seaport was proposed about 200km north of Port Sudan atAbu Amama.[24]A 450km road to the farming hub atAbu Hamadwould also be provided. This new seaport is oppositeJeddahwhich shortens the ferry trip fromJeddah.
Education
editThe city is home to theRed Sea University,established in 1994.[25]
Places of worship
edit
Places of worshipare predominantlyMuslimmosques,[26]but there are alsoChristianchurches and temples including theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Khartoum(Catholic Church),Sudan Interior Church(Baptist World Alliance), andPresbyterian Church in Sudan(World Communion of Reformed Churches) andCoptic Orthodox Churches.[citation needed]
Climate
editPort Sudan has ahot desert climate(Köppen:BWh) with extremely hot summers and moderately hot winters, requiring the acquisition of fresh water fromWadi Arba'atin theRed Sea Hillsand from salt-evaporating pans. Temperatures can easily exceed 30 °C (86 °F) in winter and 45 °C (113 °F) in summer. Over 90% of the annual rainfall falls between October and January, mostly in November, with the wettest month on record being November 1947 with 182 millimetres (7.2 in), whilst the wettest year was from July 1923 to June 1924 with 231 millimetres (9.1 in). Average annual rainfall is 76 millimetres (3.0 in), and no rainfall occurred between January 1983 and June 1984.[27]The mean temperature year round (the average of all daily highs and nighttime lows) is 28.4 °C (83.1 °F).
| Climate data for Port Sudan, Sudan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1906–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37 (99) |
36.6 (97.9) |
40 (104) |
41.8 (107.2) |
47 (117) |
48.6 (119.5) |
48.9 (120.0) |
48.6 (119.5) |
46.5 (115.7) |
44.3 (111.7) |
39 (102) |
38 (100) |
48.9 (120.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.3 (81.1) |
27.8 (82.0) |
29.7 (85.5) |
32.9 (91.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
40.2 (104.4) |
42.7 (108.9) |
42.7 (108.9) |
39.5 (103.1) |
34.9 (94.8) |
31.4 (88.5) |
28.7 (83.7) |
34.6 (94.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) |
23.5 (74.3) |
24.7 (76.5) |
27.5 (81.5) |
31.0 (87.8) |
33.7 (92.7) |
36.2 (97.2) |
36.6 (97.9) |
33.6 (92.5) |
30.2 (86.4) |
27.7 (81.9) |
25.1 (77.2) |
29.4 (84.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.8 (67.6) |
19.2 (66.6) |
19.7 (67.5) |
22.1 (71.8) |
24.9 (76.8) |
27.2 (81.0) |
29.6 (85.3) |
30.5 (86.9) |
27.8 (82.0) |
25.5 (77.9) |
23.9 (75.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
24.3 (75.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 10 (50) |
10 (50) |
10 (50) |
12.3 (54.1) |
17.4 (63.3) |
17.2 (63.0) |
20 (68) |
20 (68) |
18.9 (66.0) |
16 (61) |
17.5 (63.5) |
9 (48) |
9 (48) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 2.3 (0.09) |
0.1 (0.00) |
0.1 (0.00) |
8.8 (0.35) |
1.0 (0.04) |
0.9 (0.04) |
3.8 (0.15) |
2.3 (0.09) |
0.0 (0.0) |
17.9 (0.70) |
24.6 (0.97) |
18.8 (0.74) |
80.6 (3.17) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 7.1 |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 64 | 65 | 63 | 58 | 46 | 37 | 38 | 40 | 50 | 65 | 68 | 67 | 55 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 195.3 | 204.4 | 266.6 | 291.0 | 310.0 | 264.0 | 229.4 | 223.2 | 264.0 | 279.0 | 228.0 | 182.9 | 2,937.8 |
| Source 1:NOAA[28][29] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[30] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
edit| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1906[31] | 4,289 |
| 1941 | 26,255 |
| 1973 | 132,632 |
| 1983 | 209,938 |
| 1993 | 305,385 |
| 2007 (est.) | 489,275 |
| 2008 (est.) | 517,338 |
The population consists mainly of Sudanese Arabs, including the nativeBejapeople, with small Asian and European minorities.[5]
Sport
editHay Al-Arab SCfounded in 1928, andHilal Alsahil SCfounded in 1937, both play at thePort Sudan Stadiumin thefootballSudan Premier League.The city's third team isAl-Merreikh Al-Thagher.
Notable people
edit- Gawaher(Pop singer)
- Ra'ouf Mus'ad(Playwright)
Notes
edit- ^"Bur Sudan, Sudan Metro Area".Retrieved17 September2023.
- ^abEltahir, Nafisa; Abdelaziz, Khalid; Saul, Jonathan (2021-12-23)."Sudan's Red Sea port struggles to recover from blockade and turmoil".Reuters.Retrieved2022-04-22.
- ^"City Population in Sudan".Retrieved6 September2023.
- ^abMilton, Immanual John (2023-06-20)."CityLab Daily: Port Sudan Becomes Haven for Refugees Fleeing War".Bloomberg.Retrieved2023-06-20.
- ^abcd"Port Sudan | Facts".Encyclopedia Britannica.Retrieved2018-11-02.
- ^Ynet (2009-04-08)."Report: Naval commando forces involved in Sudan strike".Ynetnews.Retrieved2022-11-26.
- ^Foy, Henry; Schipani, Andres (November 16, 2020)."Russia to build naval base in Sudan".The Financial Times.Archivedfrom the original on November 20, 2020.RetrievedNovember 20,2020.
Russia will build a naval base on Sudan's Red Sea coast, its first in Africa, as the Kremlin seeks to expand its global military footprint and cement its burgeoning trade and defence ties with the continent. The Russian navy has been directed to proceed with plans to construct a base for 300 personnel and space for up to four warships, including nuclear-powered vessels, according to an order signed by president Vladimir Putin on Monday.
- ^Phillips, Michael M. (2022-03-02)."U.S. Worries Sudan Is Close to Leasing Russia a Red Sea Base".Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.Retrieved2022-04-22.
- ^"Port Sudan's water shortage worsening - Sudan | ReliefWeb".reliefweb.int.2016-06-16.Retrieved2023-06-20.
- ^"Sudan tribal protesters lift port blockade, week after coup".AP NEWS.2021-11-01.Retrieved2022-04-22.
- ^Jamal, Urooba (2023-05-03)."Port Sudan, a Red Sea refuge for many fleeing Sudan's violence".Al Jazeera.Retrieved2023-06-22.
- ^VOA60 Africa - Displaced Sudanese in Port Sudan suffer from extreme heat, food and water shortages,2023-05-15,retrieved2023-06-20
- ^Eltahir, Nafisa (26 October 2023)."Paramilitary RSF say they have seized Sudan's second city".Reuters.Retrieved28 October2023.
- ^"Sudan talks resume as 'Libya scenario' looms large".Retrieved2023-10-29.
- ^"After six months of civil war, little remains of Khartoum".The Economist.19 October 2023.ISSN0013-0613.Archivedfrom the original on 29 February 2024.Retrieved29 October2023.
- ^"The SAF-RSF Conflict and its Consequences on Eastern Sudan".epc.ae.Retrieved2023-10-29.
- ^"People in Sudan's de facto capital Port Sudan, which hosts the army-aligned government, take to the streets to celebrate the reported advance of Sudanese military forces and allied armed groups on the key Al-Jazira state capital, Wad Madani".IslanderNews | Locally Owned & Operated.11 January 2025.
- ^"Sudan army says enters key paramilitary-held Al-Jazira state capital".Yahoo News.11 January 2025.
- ^"Sudan army says its forces enter Wad Madani in push to retake city from RSF".Al Jazeera.
- ^"China's 'Maritime Silk Road': Don't Forget Africa".thediplomat.
- ^See also: Harry G. Broadman "Afrika´s Silk Road" (2007).
- ^"Implications for Africa from China's One Belt One Road Strategy".africacenter.org.
- ^"China's Belt and Road Initiative beacons new trade in MENAT".business.hsbc.ae.
- ^"Sudan to develop Red Sea port in $6-bln initial pact with Emirati group".Reuters.2022-12-13.Retrieved2023-07-11.
- ^"Red Sea University".African Studies Center. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-08-12.Retrieved2011-09-17.
- ^Britannica, Sudan,britannica, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019
- ^"Monthly Rainfall for Port Sudan (#62641)".climexp.knmi.nl.Archived fromthe originalon 2013-02-22.
- ^"World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Port Sudan".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedJanuary 22,2024.
- ^"Port Sudan Climate Normals 1961–1990".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedJanuary 24,2015.
- ^ "Station Port Soudan"(in French). Meteo Climat.Retrieved22 October2016.
- ^Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)..Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 133.
References
edit- Arckell, A. J.,UNESCOGeneral History of Africa, History of Darfur 1200-1700 A.D. SNR.
- Encyclopædia Britannica,"Port Sudan" (description), 2007, webpage:EB-PortSudan.[permanent dead link]
- Michael R. T. Dumper; Bruce E. Stanley, eds. (2008), "Port Sudan",Cities of the Middle East and North Africa,Santa Barbara, Cal.:ABC-CLIO,ISBN9781576079195
External links
edit
Media related toPort Sudanat Wikimedia Commons
