Blue Nile State ولاية النيل الأزرق Wilāyat an-Nīl al-Azraq | |
|---|---|
 Roseires Dam on theBlue Nile | |
 Flag  Seal | |
.svg) Location in Sudan. | |
| Coordinates:11°16′N34°4′E / 11.267°N 34.067°E /11.267; 34.067 | |
| Country |  Sudan |
| Region | Blue Nile Province |
| Capital | Ad-Damazin |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Ahmed al-Omda |
| Area | |
• Total | 45,844 km2 (17,700 sq mi) |
| Population (2018) | |
• Total | 1,108,391[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
| HDI (2017) | 0.416[2] low |
Blue Nile State (Arabic:ولاية النيل الأزرقWilāyat an-Nīl al-ʾAzraq) is one of the 18states of theRepublic of the Sudan. Established by Presidential Decree No. 3 in 1992, it is named after theBlue Nile River. The region is host to around forty different ethnic groups. Its economic activity is based on agriculture and livestock as well as mineral exploitation.
In 2011, residents of Blue Nile were scheduled to hold ill-defined "popular consultations" to determine the constitutional future of the state, per theComprehensive Peace Agreement. Instead, a dispute over the rightful government of the state, and the determination ofOmar al-Bashir to eradicate theSudan People's Liberation Movement–North, led toa renewed nine-year conflict between government forces and theSudan Revolutionary Front as well as contributing to a refugee crisis.[3][4] The conflict finally came to an end in 2020 after a peace agreement was signed and the government to not discriminate based on ethnicity or religion.[5][6]
Further clashes in the state broke out in 2022 between theHausa people andFunj andBerta peoples over land disputes which led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians.[7] On 5 August 2024, the RSF launched an incursion into the state and continues to control northwestern parts of the state.[8] On 5 March 2025, SAF launched a counteroffensive on the rest of RSF controlled territory inSennar, and took full control over territories, includingMazmoum.
The State is sub-divided into five districts (with 2006 Census populations shown hereafter):
Blue Nile state has an area of 45,844 km2 and an estimated population of 1,193,293. The Central Bureau of Statistics quoted the population at 832,112 in the 2006 census.Ad-Damazin is the capital of the state. The state of Blue Nile is home to theRoseires Dam, the main source of hydroelectric power in Sudan until the completion of theMerowe Dam in 2010.
The following languages are spoken in Blue Nile state according toEthnologue.[12]
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