About Sudan

Sudan is a huge country - actually, it is a size equal to one third of all of the United States of America. That's right - all of them put together!

The Darfur region which so often places Sudan in the Worlds news headlines, is in the north west of this massive country.

In the last 50 years, Southern Sudan has only had 10 years of peace as the north fought the south. Because the country is so huge, it contains many different cultures and tribes. Those in the north are predominantly Arab and Muslim. Those in the South are more African and either Christian or hold to traditional African beliefs.

When the Islamic government, based in Khartoum in northern Sudan, sought to enforce the Islamic faith and culture on the southern people, they rebelled and the fighting began.

Add to this the discovery of oil in the south and you have a volatile mix of politics and money. China currently buys most (if not all) of Sudan's oil that is pumped up to the north via a pipeline.

Thankfully, a peace agreement was signed in 2005 between the Sudanese government and SPLA (Sudan Peoples Liberation Army) that states in 2009, the peoples of Southern Sudan will have a vote to either stay as part of the greater Sudan with some autonomy, or for Southern Sudan to become a totally separate country in its own right in 2011.

South Sudan is the size of around 7 Germany's, so we're talking a huge area. It is predominantly green with many trees and other flora, rich in oil and many other natural resources.

But for the conflict, the local population should be enjoying a good standard of living, but the almost continuous war has delivered no education and destroyed whatever infrastructure the region ever had. It's like visiting Africa 50 years ago! There is no tarmac, no banks, no shopping arcades, and until recently there was no electricity or mains water even in large towns. Only in 2007 did part of Yei begin to have mains electricity, schools and hospitals, but the vast majority of this huge region is still without the basic things those in the Western world take for granted.

It's in this environment that Elias and Anngrace Taban have set out to create a better life for the people of Southern Sudan. The GOSS has officially recognised the work Elias and Anngrace do in building new hospitals, health clinics, orphanages and schools, and encourage them to keep up their good work.

We are hoping to help them in their quest, not just to improve the living standards of those around them, but to share the great news of Gods love to the people of Southern Sudan.