Omdurman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Omdurmán
أم درمان
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Omdurman Market
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 Omdurman
Location in Sudan
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| Country |  Sudan |
| State | Khartoum State |
| Area | |
| • Total | 614.9 km2 (237.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 178 m (584 ft) |
| Population
(2008)
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| • Total | 2,395,159 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (Central Africa Time) |
Omdurman (Arabic: أم درمان, romanized: Umm Durmān) is a very large city in Sudan, a country in Africa. It is the second most populated city in Sudan. Omdurman is located in the State of Khartoum. The city sits on the west bank of the River Nile, right across from Khartoum, the capital city. The Nile River is very important for travel and trade in Omdurman.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Omdurman (Umm Durmān) means "Mother of Durmān." However, no one knows for sure who this "Durmān" person was.
A Look Back: Omdurman's History
After a big event called the siege of Khartoum, a special tomb was built in Omdurman. This tomb was for a leader named the Mahdi. After the Mahdi passed away, the city of Omdurman grew very quickly.
The Battle of Omdurman (1898)
In 1898, a major battle took place near Omdurman. It is known as the Battle of Omdurman. During this battle, Lord Kitchener led British forces. They fought against the Mahdist forces, who were followers of the Mahdi. Lord Kitchener's army won this battle.
In September 1898, the British army came into Sudan. This army had about 20,000 well-trained soldiers. They had modern weapons like Maxim guns and Martini-Henry rifles. They faced about 52,000 Sudanese fighters. These Sudanese fighters were not as well-armed. The battle lasted only about five hours. Many Sudanese fighters were lost, with at least 10,000 killed. The British side had fewer than 400 casualties.
After the battle, General Kitchener ordered that the Mahdi's tomb be damaged. However, the tomb was later fixed and made new again. Kitchener then made Khartoum the capital city once more. From 1899 until 1956, Great Britain and Egypt ruled Sudan together.
Recent Conflicts
On May 10, 2008, a rebel group from Darfur entered Omdurman. They fought with Sudanese government forces. Their goal was to try and change the government.
More recently, during the Sudanese civil war, fighting also broke out in Omdurman in 2023. This is known as the Battle of Omdurman (2023).
City Layout and Climate
Neighbourhoods
Omdurman has different areas, including:
- Ombadda
Climate and Weather
Omdurman has a very hot and dry climate. This means it gets very little rain, mostly in the summer months. The city gets about 155 millimeters (6 inches) of rain each year.
Omdurman is one of the hottest big cities in the world. Temperatures often go above 40°C (104°F) in the middle of summer. The average high temperature for the year is 37.1°C (98.8°F). For six months of the year, the average monthly high temperature is at least 38°C (100°F). Even in the coolest months, like January and February, daytime temperatures are warm. Nights are cooler, with average low temperatures just above 15°C (59°F).
| Climate data for Omdurman | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.8 (87.4) |
33.0 (91.4) |
36.8 (98.2) |
40.1 (104.2) |
41.9 (107.4) |
41.3 (106.3) |
38.4 (101.1) |
37.3 (99.1) |
39.1 (102.4) |
39.3 (102.7) |
35.2 (95.4) |
31.8 (89.2) |
37.1 (98.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.6 (60.1) |
17.0 (62.6) |
20.5 (68.9) |
23.6 (74.5) |
27.1 (80.8) |
27.3 (81.1) |
25.9 (78.6) |
25.3 (77.5) |
26.0 (78.8) |
25.5 (77.9) |
21.0 (69.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
22.7 (72.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
.4 (0.02) |
4.0 (0.16) |
46.3 (1.82) |
75.2 (2.96) |
25.4 (1.00) |
4.8 (0.19) |
.7 (0.03) |
0 (0) |
156.8 (6.18) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0 | 0 | .1 | .1 | .9 | 1.2 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 16.3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 27 | 22 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 28 | 43 | 49 | 40 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 29 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 141 | 211 | 260 | 330 | 360 | 390 | 400 | 390 | 365 | 300 | 260 | 180 | 3,587 |
| Source 1: World Meteorological Organisation (UN) | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: BBC Weather | |||||||||||||
People and Population
Omdurman has grown a lot over the years. Here's how its population has changed:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1909 (Census) | 42,779 |
| 1941 | 116,196 |
| 1956 | 113,600 |
| 1973 | 299,399 |
| 1983 | 526,284 |
| 1993 | 1,271,403 |
| 2007 Estimate | 2,127,802 |
| 2008 | 2,395,159 |
| 2010 | 2,577,780 |
Learning and Education
Omdurman has many universities where students can continue their education.
Public Universities
- Karary University
- Omdurman Islamic University
- University of the Holy Quran and Islamic Sciences
Private Universities
- Ahfad University for Women
- Omdurman Ahlia University
- University of Science and Technology - Omdurman
Travel and Transport
The main airport for Omdurman is Khartoum Airport.
New Khartoum International Airport
Officials in Sudan had plans for a new airport. It was proposed to be about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Omdurman. This project was expected to cost around $530 million. Construction started in 2019, but it was stopped in 2021.
See also
In Spanish: Omdurmán para niños
