Sudan

I

Communications

Telephone, telegraph, and postal services are administered by government monopolies. Although the telephone system is extensive, by Western standards it is poorly maintained. Two satellite Earth stations enable international communications. The state-controlled Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation and Sudan Television together provide three television channels and a radio service in Arabic, English, and several languages spoken in southern Sudan. In 2000 some 14 million radios and 9 million television receivers were estimated to be in use. Sudan’s independent newspapers were closed by the government after the 1989 coup.

V

Government

The constitution of 1973, establishing Sudan as a one-party presidential republic, was suspended following a military coup in April 1985. Multi-party elections were held in 1986, but all political activity was banned after another military coup in June 1989, and many leading political figures arrested. In 1992 an appointed transitional parliament was established by General Omar Hassan al-Bashir, leader of the Revolutionary Command Council.

In 1993 a package of reform measures was announced which, according to Bashir, was designed to ensure that presidential and legislative elections would be held in 1994 and 1995 respectively. Elections held in March 1996 were boycotted by the main opposition parties. In February 1998 guidelines for the new constitution were announced, revealing attempts by the government to introduce a degree of liberalization and containing provisions for a multi-party system. The draft constitution was approved by a referendum in May 1998 and political parties were permitted to form from January 1999.

A

Executive and Legislature

After the April 1985 coup, a 15-member Transitional Military Council took control. In April 1986 the people elected members to a parliamentary assembly; the leader of the majority party became prime minister. After the 1989 coup, a 15-member Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) assumed control. On October 16, 1993, as part of the reform measures announced earlier in the month, the council dissolved itself, naming Bashir as president of a new civilian government, which included most of the ministers from the outgoing administration. Bashir was elected to a five-year term following the March 1996 elections.

A 264-seat National Assembly, elected in April 1986, was dissolved after the 1989 coup. A 300-seat Transitional National Assembly was established in 1993, with the power to propose and pass legislation, veto government legislation, and ratify treaties. Today, a 360-seat National Assembly (Majlis Watani) has 270 members directly elected for four-year terms, with other seats reserved for women, university graduates, and trade unionists. The Assembly is dominated by the National Congress Party of Bashir.

B

Judiciary

Until 1983, Sudan's judicial system was divided into two major branches: a civil branch handling most cases, and an Islamic branch handling only personal and family matters. In 1983 President Nimeiry revoked all existing laws in favour of a new, strict Islamic code administered by a system of Shari’ah law courts. These courts were abolished in the 1985 coup, and it was announced that the previous two-level system would be reintroduced.

Following the 1989 coup, the RCC established special courts to investigate violations of the emergency laws. It was announced in June 1991 that these courts were to be incorporated into the general judicial system, which had been returned to Shari’ah law earlier in the year. Shari’ah law was not reimposed on the south. The government has, since 1989, been widely criticized by both international human rights agencies, and western governments (who have frozen aid disbursements) for human rights abuses.

C

Health and Welfare

Limited health services are badly underfunded and are virtually non-existent in rural areas. Malaria and leishmaniasis are endemic in most areas, and undernourishment and malnutrition are common. In 1990 there were about 10,000 people per doctor; 3.3 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was spent on health care. The country had an infant mortality rate of 87 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2008.