Africa Mobile: Tanzania and Sudan by Mike Kofi Okyere

Sudan

The Republic of Sudan is Africa's largest country, in terms of land mass, and it is the 10th largest country in the world. In the intersection of the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, the country borders Egypt, the Red Sea, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic-Republican of Congo, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Chad.

Sudan's economic output is low, especially considering the investments placed into infrastructure and the development of economic policies. However, with its steady export of natural resources, such as crude oil, the economy in Sudan is steadily rising at 7% annually. With over 25 million people populating Sudan in 1993, there are two specific cultures in Sudan: non-Arab Africans and Africans with Nubian roots. Within these two cultures, there are hundreds of cultures and languages. Sudan is predominantly Muslim, with indigenous religions and Christianity accounting for approximately 20% of the population.

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania, which is considered by archeologists to be important in the origins of man, is located in Eastern Africa, bordering Kenya, Uganda, the Congo Republic, Burundi, Rwanda, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia. The country stretches to the Indian Ocean, encompassing the Zanzibar islands.

Tanzania has undergone colonization struggles with various regions, including Portugal, Arabian Oman, and the United Kingdom. In 1961, the country won full independence, and Tanzania became a republic.

Half of the country's GDP stems from agriculture, which also accounts for the majority of its exports. The country's vast natural resources, such as gold deposits, help position Tanzania for increased growth. With a population of approximately 38 million, Tanzania has over 120 ethnic groups each with their own language, as well as groups of Asians, Arabs, and Europeans also populating the country. There is no one clearly defined religion, as it is divided between Christians, Muslims, and traditional faiths.