According to petwithsupplies, Sudan is a large country in the North-Eastern part of Africa, with an area of 2.5 million square kilometers and a population of approximately 39 million people. The largest cities in Sudan are Khartoum, Omdurman, Port Sudan, Kassala, and Nyala. Khartoum is the capital and largest city in Sudan with a population of over 5 million people. It is located at the confluence of the White and Blue Niles, making it an important trading hub for goods from the Middle East and Africa. The city has a long history dating back to ancient times and is home to many important historical sites such as the National Museum of Sudan and the Great Mosque. Omdurman is the second largest city in Sudan with a population of over 3 million people. It lies on the western bank of the Nile River just north of Khartoum. It is an important industrial center as well as a major trade hub for goods coming from Egypt, Libya, Chad, and South Sudan. Omdurman also has several universities including University of Omdurman and Al-Neelain University which attract students from all over Africa. Port Sudan is another major city in Sudan located on the Red Sea coast with a population of nearly 1 million people. It serves as an important port for goods coming from East Africa as well as being an oil export hub for crude oil from southern Sudanese states such as Upper Nile and Unity State. Apart from its economic importance, Port Sudan also has several tourist attractions such as its coral reefs which attract divers from around the world each year. Kassala is located close to Ethiopia’s border with a population of approximately 500 thousand people. The town serves mainly as an agricultural center but also has some light industry including textiles manufacturing plants which employ many local residents. Kassala also has some historical sites such as ruins from ancient civilizations which draw tourists each year despite its remote location relative to other cities in Sudan. Nyala is located close to Darfur region with a population close to 500 thousand people making it one of the smallest cities on this list but still larger than many other towns in Sudan due to its proximity to Darfur region which attracts many refugees each year seeking safety away from conflict zones back home. Nyala has some light industry, mainly in the textile sector, and is also a hub for agricultural activity due to its fertile land. In 2008, Sudan was a country with a complex geopolitical situation. The north-south civil war had officially ended in 2005, but the region was still struggling to recover from its devastating effects. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005 had granted the south a degree of autonomy, but the region remained politically and economically marginalized. In addition, there were ongoing conflicts in Darfur and other parts of the country between various ethnic groups vying for power and resources. The government of Sudan was led by President Omar al-Bashir, who had been in power since 1989 and had been accused by the International Criminal Court of crimes against humanity. Bashir’s government was viewed as oppressive and authoritarian by many outside observers, particularly due to its human rights abuses and use of military force against its own people. In 2008, Sudan faced a number of international challenges that threatened to destabilize the country even further. It faced economic sanctions from the United States due to its support for terrorism and human rights abuses; these sanctions hindered Sudan’s ability to access international aid or loans from foreign governments or banks. The UN Security Council also imposed an arms embargo on Sudan in 2004 due to its involvement in the Darfur conflict; this embargo restricted arms sales to Sudanese forces as well as making it difficult for rebel forces to acquire weapons or funding. Internally, Sudan faced political divisions between its various ethnic groups that often resulted in violence and instability. This was particularly true in Darfur where fighting between rebels and government forces continued despite attempts at peace negotiations. In addition, there were frequent clashes between pro-government militias such as the Janjaweed and rebel forces such as those belonging to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). These conflicts caused widespread displacement within Darfur as well as across borders into neighboring countries such as Chad or South Africa where refugees sought safety away from conflict zones back home. Overall, 2008 was a tumultuous year for Sudan with many challenges both internally and externally that threatened stability within the country. Despite attempts at peace negotiations with rebel groups such as those found in Darfur or South Kordofan, these efforts have largely been unsuccessful thus far leading many observers to believe that meaningful progress towards stability will only be achieved if all sides are willing to compromise on key issues such as resource sharing or political representation within government bodies. Check pharmacylib for Sudan in 1996.