Khartum Sudanese Capital

Summary : Khartoum, founded in 1824, forms now a huge metropolis of ca. 6 millions inhabitants, at the confluence of the two Niles. It consists of three different urban cores, which represent the colonial origin (Khartoum proper), the indigenous upheaval of the Mahdia (Omdurman) and the industrial development of the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium (Khartoum-North). Urban growth accelerated tremendously due to the influx of migrants from rural areas of central Sudan hit by successive droughts and later by displaced persons from the war-torn South and Darfur. Huge unplanned settlements now surround the initial square urban frame, but despite its access to oil revenues, the State has been unable to provide basic infrastructure and services to these new urban dwellers