Sudan is one of the few countries that enjoys a variety of cultural backgrounds as well as natural and ethnic diversity. Sudan is considered one of the major entrances to the African continent. It is a country of over 5.2 million sq. km (2 million sq. mi.) and has a population of 34 million.
Sudan shares borders with nine countries; this is a geo-political disadvantage. It has two major ethnic groups, blacks and Arabs.

Muslims constitute 70 percent of its population and the rest is divided between Christians and pagans. Darfur is the most representative of all Sudan’s 26 provinces for its ethnic variety, languages, and internal problems, in addition to the influence exercised by neighboring countries and international powers.