At the national level, the Transitional Sovereignty Council, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers form the central executive structure. Sudan is divided into 18 wilayat, or states, and localities for subnational administration. In practice, access to public services, official documents, security and justice depends heavily on the authority controlling the relevant area. Elections have a formal legal basis. The last nationwide vote took place from 13 to 16 April 2015 for the presidency and National Assembly. The war since April 2023, displacement and fragmented state functions have made current electoral access and the operation of election bodies uncertain. No reliably documented nationwide election date, voter-registration period or candidate-registration period is currently available. A political assessment of Sudan therefore needs to distinguish the formal state and electoral framework from the authority and access that exist in a particular area.
Politics in Sudan
Politics in Sudan covers the organization of state authority and the conduct of elections. State institutions and territorial control are severely fragmented by the civil war, so access to services, documents, security and justice varies by area. Sudan has a formal electoral framework, but no reliably documented nationwide election process or timetable is currently available.
Tip
Treat Sudan’s formal political framework and the authority functioning in the relevant area as separate checks. Identify the authority affecting your specific matter before relying on access to services, documents, security or justice. Do not plan around an election date or registration period unless a current nationwide process has been documented.