Source:

Map of Sudan's ethnic groups ("National Geographic: Map of Sudan's ethnic groups") [ID 12304]

Document(s): National Geographic: Map of Sudan's ethnic groups

Source:

Rightsmap.com: Ethnic geography Western Upper Nile ("Rightsmap.com: Ethnic geography Western Upper Nile") [ID 12305]

Document(s): Rightsmap.com: Ethnic geography Western Upper Nile

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Overview on ethnic groups in Sudan ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19852]

"The population is a multi-ethnic mix of more than 500 Arab and African tribes with numerous languages and dialects. Northern Muslims, numbering approximately 16 million persons, traditionally dominated the government, while southern ethnic groups fighting the civil war (largely followers of traditional indigenous religions or Christians) numbered approximately six million. The fighting in Darfur was between Muslims who self-identify as either Arab or non-Arab (see section 1.g.). Northern Muslims, while southern ethnic groups fighting the civil war (largely followers of traditional indigenous religions or Christians) numbered approximately 8.2 million. The fighting in Darfur was between Muslims who self-identified as either Arab or non-Arab (see section 1.g.)."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Discrimination against ethnic minorities continued in almost every aspect of the society ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46041],  [ID 12302]

"The population was a multi-ethnic mix of more than 500 Arab and African tribes with numerous languages and dialects. Northern Muslims, numbering approximately 16 million persons, traditionally dominated the government, while southern ethnic groups fighting the civil war (largely followers of traditional indigenous religions or Christians) numbered approximately 6 million. The fighting in Darfur was between Muslims who self-identify as either Arab or non-Arab (see section 1.g.).

The Muslim majority and the government continued to discriminate against ethnic minorities in almost every aspect of society. Citizens in Arabic‑speaking areas who did not speak Arabic experienced discrimination in education, employment, and other areas."

Document(s): Open document

10.2004 - Source: UK Home Office

Main ethnic groups ("Sudan Country Report - October 2004") [#26961],  [ID 12303]

Main Ethnic Groups Arab Ethnic Groups (mostly northern Sudan and parts of central and southern Sudan) Baggara, Batahin, Beni Helba, Budairia, Dar Hamid, Habbania, Hamar, Hamr, Hassania, Hawasma, Hawawir, Jawamia, Kababisch, Kawahila, Kinana, Jaalin, Jim, Manasir, Masiria, Musallmia, Rubatab, Rufaa, Ruzaikat, Schaikia, Schukria, Selim, Taaischa Non-Arab Ethnic Groups Collectively known as the Beja (north east Sudan) Amarar, Beni Amer, Bischarin, Hadendoa Black Ethnic Groups (north west Sudan) Dago, Fur, Maba, Massaleit, Tama, Zaghawa Black Ethnic Groups Collectively Known as the Nubians (central and part of northern Sudan) Anag, Barabra, Birked, Danagla, Dilling, Mahas, Midobi Black Ethnic Groups Collectively Known as the Nuba (central Sudan) Kadugli, Katla, Koalib, Krongo, Nemyang or Nyima, Tagoi, Temeini Black Ethnic Groups (central and southern Sudan) Baka, Bongo, Kreisch, Ndogo Black Ethnic Groups (southern Sudan) Acholi, Anuak, Azande, Banda, Bari, Berta or Schankalla, Dinka, Karamojo, Koma, Lango, Lotuko, Luo, Madi, Mangbetu, Moru, Mundu, Murle or Molen, Nuer, Schilluk, Sere, Turkana

Document(s): Report

10.2001 - Source: Ryle, John/Gagnon, Georgette

Nuer, Dinka and Nuba are the 3 ethnic groups of Western Upper Nile ("Report of an Investigation into Oil Development, Conflict and Displacement in Western Upper Nile, Sudan (April 8 and 27, 2001)") [#14071],  [ID 12309]

"Three ethnic groups inhabit the region. The majority are Nuer, a non-Arab, largely non-Muslim people, speakers of one of several Nilotic languages of Southern Sudan. In the northern parts of Western Upper Nile there are also communities of Dinka – Ruweng or Panaru tribal sections. The Dinka are speakers of another Nilotic language, not mutually intelligible with Nuer, but many Nuer and Dinka are fluent in both and in many parts of Upper Nile there has been much intermarriage and consequent changing or blurring of ethnic identity. Like the Nuer, the Dinka of Western Upper Nile are primarily agro-pastoralists, non-Arab and largely non-Muslim.
In the far north of Western Upper Nile, at Lake Abyad, Dinka territory marches with that of the non-Arab Nuba people of Southern Kordofan. This northern part of Western Upper Nile is also used as a dry season grazing ground by Baggara Arab pastoralists from South Kordofan. In the dry season these Humr and Hawazma Baggara range as far south as the Bahr-el-Arab, the river known to the Nuer, in its Western reaches, as Col Pi. But in spite of suggestions in documents issued by Talisman, no part of Western Upper Nile is Arab territory.
The Dinka, the Nuer and the Baggara are among the best documented of all Sudanese peoples. They are the subject of classic ethnographic monographs by E.E. Evans-Pritchard, R.G. Lienhardt, P.P. Howell and Ian Cunnison, and more recent scholarly work by anthropologists and historians – Francis Mading Deng, Jok Madut Jok, Andrew Mawson, Sharon E. Hutchinson, Robert O. Collins, Lazarus Leek Mawut and Douglas H. Johnson."

Document(s): Open document

06.2001 - Source: Minorities at Risk

Southerners ("06.2001: Minorities-at-Risk-Project/University of Maryland: Minority Group Assessments: Southeners") [ID 12310]

""Southern Sudanese" is an inclusive name given to the varied peoples who live in the southern area of Sudan, including Equatorians, Dinkas, Nuers, Anuaks, Shilluks, Latukas, Taposas, Turkans, Moru, Madi, and Azande. Black Africans who are primarily animist or Christian, they have resisted attempts by various regimes in Khartoum to Arabize and Islamicize the South. The country’s history has been marked primarily by protracted civil wars. The 1972 Addis Ababa accord, which guaranteed the South substantial regional autonomy and settled a 17-year separatist struggle begun in 1956, was annulled when the Muslim northern government instituted Shari`a, or Islamic law, throughout Sudan in September 1983. The Southerners in turn resumed their armed campaign against the government, leading the country into the latest cycle of deadly conflicts (REB85-REB98 = 7).
Represented primarily by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) (ORGCOH94 = 7), headed by John Garang, Southerners have pressed the government of Sudan (GoS) for a reinstatement of autonomy with widespread powers and a loosely governed bi-regional federal government. On occasion, Southerners have voiced preferences for outright independence, although such an outcome is not favored by the international community. (Southern Sudan contains much of the natural resources of Sudan as a whole, one reason it is targeted by Khartoum. International observers fear that if Southern Sudan secedes, Northern Sudan will be hard pressed economically.) Riek Machar, who headed a breakaway faction of the SPLM called the Sudan People´s Democratic Front/Defense Forces (SPDF), signed a peace agreement with the GoS in 1996 and became head of the United Democratic Salvation Front (USDF) and Southern Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF). (The split between Garang and Machar is both a personal power struggle and an indication of ethnic tension between Southerners. Garang is Dinka, and Machar is Nuer.) Miechar reportedly defected from Khartoum in 1999 and resumed rebellion in the South with the remnants of his SPDF. The SPLM/A, under Garang, has made strategic alliances with other political opposition groups, including the Nuba, who like the Southern Sudanese are black Africans, and Northern, Arab political parties.
Intercommunal warfare among Southern Sudanese has been as problematic as the North-South divide. Both inter-Nuer warfare (between SPLA and SPDF factions) and Nuer-Dinka clashes were common in 1998. However, in 1999, in the U.S.-sponsored Wunlit peace process, an agreement was signed between Dinka and Nuer to cease the fighting. In addition, a new political group, the South Sudan Liberation Movement, was founded early in 2000 with its primary goal the unification of the Dinka Bor, Nuer and Shuluk. If these two efforts see results, the hand of the Southern Sudanese may be strengthened considerably.
Although Southern Sudan is rich in natural resources, the people of Southern Sudan face periodic famine, mainly induced by the civil war. However, 1998 and 1999 saw drought in some regions, which resulted in even lower agricultural output. By 2000, harvest forecasts had become more favorable, which marginally alleviated famine conditions. Oil companies became active in South Sudan in the late 1990s, with some accusing them of facilitating the depopulation of strategic oil fields. Control of the oil fields have also been the focus of some intercommunal fighting among Southern Sudanese factions.
Southern Sudanese groups have been supported by Uganda and Ethiopia, which have provided (willingly or not) bases for the SPLA. Additionally, the United States has provided political support for the goals of the SPLA. Most of the SPLA’s financial support, however, comes from private groups, in particular some Christian groups in South Africa who have been accused of providing weapons to the SPLA."

Document(s): 06.2001: Minorities-at-Risk-Project/University of Maryland: Minority Group Assessments: Southeners

06.2001 - Source: Minorities at Risk

People of the Nuba Mountains in Sudan ("06.2001: Minorities-at-Risk-Project/University of Maryland: Minority Group Assessments: People of the Nuba Mountains in Sudan") [ID 12311]

"The Nuba are a conglomeration of around 50 ethnic groups who are among the oldest inhabitants of Sudan (TRADITN = 1). Arab conquest pushed those Nuba not wishing to conform to Arabicized lifestyles to the region of South Kordofan, into the Nuba Mountains. The Nuba, who can be as linguistically distinct from each other as from other groups in Sudan (LANG = 2, began to coalesce around a Nuba identity in response to pressures to Islamicize and Arabicize from the north. The Nuba are also religiously diverse, with group members who follow Islam, Christianity and traditional religions (BELIEF = 2). They are most bound by their common history of oppression, geographic location (GROUPCON = 3) and similar cultural traditions (CUSTOM = 1).
Arab farmers and traders began to encroach on Nuba lands in South Kordofan in the early 1970s. Increased cultural control was also instituted in the 1970s, as Nuba were coerced into abandoning cultural traditions (in particular, nudity) and into adapting Islam and Islamic/Arab cultural values. Nuba resistance was low-key in the early and mid 1980s, but by 1989, many Nuba had allied themselves with the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement/Army, a Southern Sudanese group pushing for widespread autonomy or outright independence. While the SPLA is not an indigenous Nuba movement, it has garnered widespread support among the Nuba, who fight alongside Southern Sudanese not only in their home region but also in other contested areas.
In 1992, the governor of Southern Sudan declared jiihad on the Nuba (despite the fact that some Nuba are Muslims), a policy that has resulted in genocidal attacks on Nuba villages and especially SPLM/A strongholds in the mountains. Those Nuba who were not killed, were rounded up into "peace camps" where they are reportedly subjected to cultural pressures to Islamicize. Women have also reported rape, allegedly as part of a program of ethnic cleansing. By the end of 1998, the government had forcibly moved about half the population of the Nuba Mountains into these camps, while about a quarter of a million people continued to live in areas under SPLA control (POLDIS00 and ECDIS00 = 4). The Sudanese government has also routinely denied international humanitarian aid organizations access to the SPLA-held areas in the Nuba Mountains, although it did allow a UN assessment team to conduct a survey in 1999 and allowed a polio vaccination campaign in the same year. The government’s policy of only allowing humanitarian access to government-run "peace camps" has effectively starved some Nuba into leaving SPLA-held areas. Between 100-200,000 Nuba have lost their lives or disappeared from the Nuba Mountains since 1989.
The Nuba occupy some of the most desirable farmland in Central Sudan. While they are subject to demographic stress (a famine hit the region in 1998-1999 and flooding was a problem in 1999), much demographic stress is human-induced through bombing, population displacement and the denial of humanitarian aid.
Given their history of oppression, most Nuba want autonomy with widespread powers. Perhaps their most significant grievances center on cultural oppression, as most Nuba want to maintain their cultural traditions (which are somewhat separate from religious practice). They also want to maintain the territorial integrity of their traditional homeland, the Nuba Mountains, from encroachment by Northern settlers and commercial interests. Nuba alignment with the SPLA/M has also resulted in preferences for outright secession, especially should Southern Sudan secede (SEPX = 3)."

Document(s): 06.2001: Minorities-at-Risk-Project/University of Maryland: Minority Group Assessments: People of the Nuba Mountains in Sudan