Government

Sudan is a republic under the constitution of 1985. The country is governed by a president and a 360-member national assembly. For administrative purposes, Sudan is divided into 26 states, each ruled by a governor, deputy governor, and council of ministers. In 1998, the national assembly approved a new constitution. This constitution gives executive power to the council of ministers, which is appointed by the President but responsible to the national assembly. In addition to civil and criminal courts, Sudan has special courts that have jurisdiction for the Muslim population over family matters such as divorce and inheritance.