Page "Sudan (region)" Paragraph 1

The Sudan is the name given to a geographic region to the south of the Sahara, stretching from Western to Eastern Africa.

The name derives from the Arabic bilād as-sūdān ( بلاد السودان ) or " land of the Blacks " ( an expression denoting West and Central Africa ).

The phrase " The Sudan " is also used to refer specifically to the modern-day country of Sudan, the western part of which forms part of the larger region, and from which South Sudan gained its independence in 2011.