Time Zone |
Africa/Sao_Tome |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Africa/Khartoum |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+2 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in west-central Africa, consisting of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding islets, with the capital, São Tomé, located in the northeastern part of São Tomé. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, about 200 kilometers from the African continent, the country was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century and became independent in 1975, with Portuguese as the official language and an economy based on agriculture (cocoa, palm oil) and tourism. It should be noted that "Java" is not a city or region of the country; Java is the main island of Indonesia, with cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, and has nothing to do with São Tomé and Príncipe, possibly due to a confusion of names.
Kurmuk, Sudan is an important border town in the Blue Nile State of the Republic of Sudan, located on the Sudan-Ethiopia border, about 420 kilometers from the state capital, Damazin. The town is situated in the upper basin of the Blue Nile River, at an altitude of about 580 meters above sea level, and has a savannah climate with distinct dry and rainy seasons.
Historically a gold trading hub, Kurmuk came under Egyptian rule in the 19th century. The population is predominantly Uduk, mostly practicing traditional African religions and Christianity, and speaking Uduk and Arabic. The town has a population of about 30,000-50,000, including some Ethiopian cross-border communities.
The economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry, with crops such as sorghum and sesame grown, and animal husbandry playing an important role. There is a high potential for gold resources discovered in recent years, but infrastructure is relatively poor, with only one main road connecting to the state capital, and healthcare and education resources are in short supply.
As a node of Sudan-Ethiopia cross-border trade, Kurmuk is of strategic significance, but has long been affected by the border conflict. 2011 after the independence of South Sudan, the region has become a focus of contention between the Sudanese government forces and the opposition forces, and people's livelihoods and development are facing the dual challenges of security and resources.