African Diplomatic Missions in Sudan

Calling Codes For African Countries

The African Parliamentary Union  (APU) is a continental inter-parliamentary organization set up in Abidjan on 13th February, 1976. Its Statutes have been modified and adopted during the 22nd Conference which took place on 17 and 18 September 1999 in Luanda (Angola).

            The APU has become a political forum where African Parliaments express their opinions and exchange views and experiences, thereby allowing the international opinion to pass judgement on the progress of democratization of the political life on the Continent.
It aims particularly :

• to bring together the parliamentary institutions of all African States;
• to encourage contacts among African Parliamentarians, on the one hand, and between African Parliamentarians and Parliamentarians of other continents, on the other hand ;
• to contribute to the strengthening of the parliamentary institution in Africa, the
  promotion of democracy, and the realization of the objectives of the Organization of African Unity for the establishment of a lasting peace

The APU is and will remain a privileged framework for parliamentary dialogue and for promoting peace, democracy, good governance, sustainable development and social progress in Africa. For this purpose, it meets in conference annually to examine these questions and makes resolutions and recommendations that express African Parliamentarians' positions and opinions on questions that concern Africa. Moreover, the Parliamentarians transmit the results of their consultations to their respective parliaments and governments and to all  concerned international organizations and institutions.

APU Membership

Currently the APU has 39 member national parliaments.  Other parliaments and inter-governmental and non-governmental institutions or organizations follow up the work of the Union as observers.

The APU Headquarters

The APU Headquarters is in Abidjan. A Headquarters Agreement was signed on January 7th, 1983, between the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the African Parliamentary Union, ex-Union of African Parliaments.

Organs of the Union

• The Conference of Speakers of National Parliaments
• The Executive Committee
• The Committee on Women Parliamentarians
• The General Secretariat

The National Legislature

The Composition of the National Legislature and the Conduct of its Business

• The National Legislature is composed of the following two chambers:-

• The National Assembly; and
• The Council of States

• The National Legislature shall conduct its business as prescribed in this Constitution in joint sittings of the two Chambers, chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly and deputized by the Speaker of the Council of States.

• Vote count shall be separate for each Chamber and governed by the quorum specified in this Constitution.

• Each Chamber shall sit separately to conduct its business as prescribed in this Constitution.

• The National Legislature, as well as each of its Chambers, shall make its own internal regulations.

Composition of the National Assembly

• The National Assembly shall be composed of members elected in free and fair   elections.

• The National Elections Law shall determine the number of members and composition of the National Assembly.

Composition of the Council of States

• The Council of States shall be composed of two representatives from each state, elected by the state legislature in accordance with the National Elections Law and regulations set forth by the National Commission.

• Abyei Area shall have two observers at the Council of States, elected by Abyei Area Council.

The Seat of the National Legislature

• The National Legislature shall convene at the seat of the National Assembly. However the two Speakers may agree, for exceptional reasons, to convene a sitting of the National Legislature elsewhere.

• The Assembly shall convene at its seat in Omdurman; however the Speaker may exceptionally call it to convene elsewhere.

• The Council of States shall convene at its seat in Omdurman, however it may also hold sittings in any state in the Sudan as may be decided by its Speaker or the majority of representatives.

Functions of the National Legislature

• The National Legislature represents the will of the people and shall foster national unity, exercise national legislative functions, oversee the National Executive, and promote the decentralized system of government.

• Without prejudice to the generality of sub-Article (1) above, the National Legislature shall convene for the following purposes to:-

• amend this Constitution,

• discuss addresses by the President of the Republic,

• Authorize annual allocation of resources and revenues, in accordance with Article 110 of the Constitution.

• Reconsider a bill which has been rejected by the President of the Republic under Article 108 (2) of the Constitution.

• Approve declaration of war,

• Confirm declaration of state of emergency of termination thereof,

• Impeach the President f the Republic or the First Vice President,

• Perform any other function determined by the Constitution or law,

The National Assembly shall be competent to:

• assume legislation in all national powers, subject to sub-Article (5) (b),

• approve plants, programmes and policies relating to the State and society,

• Approve the annual national budget,

• Ratify international treaties, conventions and agreements,

• Oversee the performance of the National Executive,

• Adopt resolutions on matters of public concern,

• Summon national ministers to present reports on the executive performance of the government in general or of specified ministries or particular activities,

• Interrogate, at will, national ministers about their performance or the performance of these ministries and may recommend to the President of the Republic, in a subsequent sitting, the removal of a national minister, if he/she is deemed to have lost the confidence of the National Assembly.

The Council of States shall be competent to:

• initiate legislations on the decentralized system of government and other issues of interest to the states and pass such legislations with two-thirds  majority of all representatives,

• issue resolutions and directives that may guide all levels of government in accordance with the provisions of Articles 24, 25 and 26 of the Constitution,

• approve by two-thirds majority of  all representatives, the appointment of the Justices of the Constitutional Court,

• approve, by a two-thirds majority , national legislation referred to in Article 5 (3) (a)  of this Constitution or initiate national legislation which will provide for such necessary alternative institutions, according to Article 5 (3) (b) of the Constitution, as appropriate,

• supervise the National Reconstruction and Development Fund,

• Decide on objections by states referred to it by the National Petroleum Commission according to the provisions  of Article 191 (4) (d) of the Constitution,
• Request statements from national ministers concerned regarding effective implementation of the decentralized system and devolution of power.

While sitting separately to transact business that falls within its competence, each Chamber shall observe the following rules:-

• any bill on a matter falling within the competence of either Chamber, shall be tabled in that Chamber,

• a bill passed by the National Assembly shall be referred to a standing Inter-Chamber Committee for scrutiny and decision on whether it affects the interests of the states. Should the Committee decide that the bill affects the interest of the states, the bill shall be referred to the Council of States,

• should the Council of States introduce any amendments in the referred bill, by a two-thirds majority of the representatives or pass it as is, the bill shall be sent top the President of the Republic for his/her assent without being returned to the National Assembly

• No Chamber shall discuss any business of which the other Chamber is seized, until it is finally referred thereto.

Committees of the National Legislature

• Each Chamber, in accordance with its internal regulations, shall have standing specialized committees and ad hoc committees.

• The two Chambers may form inter-chamber standing or ad hoc committees for specific matters that are of concern to the two Chambers.

The Sudan is the Afro-Arab melting pot country and the cradle of ancient civilizations.  It is the land of multiple races and different environments; the land of deserts, forests, mountains and a variety of rich cultures.  It is an integral part of the Arab nation and a formidable corner in Africa.  Its distinct geographical position was the starting point of the first civilization, and feeling hand of the creative human activity.

Geography

Location: northern Africa, overlooking the Red Sea between Egypt and Eritrea.
Geographic coordinates: between longitudes 49.21° and 34.38°Eand latitudes 23.8° and 45.8°N.

Land boundaries: The total length of borders is 6.780 km. Border countries are:
-  Egypt                                  1.273 km.
- Eritrea                                 636 km.
- Ethiopia                              727 km.
- South Sudan                       1.973km.
- Central Africa                    448 km.
- Chad                                                1.340 km.
- Libya                                    383 km.

Length of coastline:                                    785 km.

Climate conditions:
Desert and semi-arid desert in the  far north (Northern State  and States of   North 
Kordofan and North Darfur), semi-desert to rainy in the centre and South, and the
Mediterranean climate in the eastern areas.

Topography:
The Sudan is mostly flat plains with mountain chains- the Red Sea Mountains and
Jebel Marra Mountains

Altitude:

1. Highest point: Jebel Marra, 3.024 m above sea level.
2. Lowest point: the Red Sea, 0 Sea level.

Natural resources

Minerals:       oil, iron, gold, copper, chromium, zinc, mica. 
Livestock:      camels, sheep, goats, birds, wild animals.
Water and forests.

Weather forecast in Khartoum through 23rd November until 7th December, 2011 

Rainfall is unexpected in this time of the year, temperatures range between 19,5° to 34°.