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Kordofan

Former province of central Sudan, known as the ‘White Land’; area 146,932 sq km/56,730 sq mi; population (1983) 3,093,300. In 1994 it was divided into three new federal states: North, South, and West Kordofan. Although it has never been an independent state, it has a character of its own. It is mainly undulating plain, with acacia scrub producing gum arabic, marketed in the chief towns of El Obeid in the north and Kaduqli in the south. Formerly a rich agricultural region, it is threatened by desertification.

Agriculture and industry

There are rich gum forests, and groundnuts, cotton, tobacco, cereals, sesame, and sorghum are grown, especially in the south, where agriculture is more productive. Industries include cotton gins, oilseed mills, and leather and soap manufacture, and ostrich feathers, gum arabic, hides, and ivory are exported.

History

The Mahdi captured El Obeid in 1883. The Egyptian government despatched a force from Cairo under the British General Hicks, which was ambushed and annihilated at Shekan to the south of El Obeid. Following British reoccupation in 1898, Kordofan was added (1899) to the number of provinces of the Sudan. In 1928 Kordofan province was amalgamated with the province of the Nuba Mountains which had been a separate province since 1913.

Physical More than half of Kordofan's surface is flat, but in the southeast quarter is the Jebel Nuba, a series of rocky massifs rising from the plain and containing caves. During the rainy season, which lasts from June to September, the vegetation is luxuriant, but in the dry season the country is almost a desert.

Demographics Large grazing areas are used by Arabic-speaking, semi-nomadic Baggara and camel-raising Kababish. The most important ethnic groups living here are the Nuba, Shilluk, and Dinka.

African history Baggara Bashir, Omar Hassan Ahmad al-

El Obeid Nachtigal, Gustav Sudan