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Sudan

Beyond oil score(out of 100 points) 25.0
Index ranking(out of 26 countries ranked) 25
Overall status*  
General Economic Framework  
Political Framework  
Society and Future Skills  
(Beyond) oil related factors  


After the discovery of major oil resources in Sudan, the country’s oil production boosted from 2000bl/day in 1994 to 310.000bl/day in 2004. Sudan’s oil production capacity is expected to continue its two-digit growth over the next decades. However, given the country’s modest overall reserves (0.5% of the world’s reserves) and their rapid exploitation Sudan’s oil boom might be much shorter than the currently expected 57 more years (in terms of 2004 annual production).

Instability on all levels

Chronic instability – this might be the most suitable description of Sudan – also from a beyond-oil perspective. In fact, Sudan is the only country in the beyond oil index that scores with a plain zero for its political framework, meaning that corruption is extraordinary high and the standards good governance remain practically unimplemented. From our perspective, Sudan also deserves rather symbolic than substantial scores for its general economic framework as well. Moreover, Sudan’s government is continuously rejecting an UN peacekeeping mission in its troubled western province Dafour. This unresolved conflict, which is also a struggle about access to oil resources between the North and the South of the country, adds another gloomy shade on Sudan’s future perspective.

Beyond Oil Summary

Given its modest resources Sudan might have already missed the chance to use its temporary oil boom to secure stability and welfare for the next decades. Compared to second major African oil producer Nigeria, Sudan reaches similar scores in all fields with the exception that it cannot rely on a similarly broad spectrum of sources of commodities.

  Indicates high preparedness   Indicates deficits but potential for development   Indicates unfavourable preconditions.
 
     
   
 
 
Beyond oil © 2007.