El Obeid

El Obeid (in Arab: الأبيض Al-Ubayyid ) is a city of the center of the Sudan. It is the capital of the state of the North-Kordofan. Its population is estimated at more: 420000 inhabitants in 2007.

Geography

Located in the middle of a fertile oasis, the city is located at approximately 350 km in the south-west of Khartoum, in the north of the mountains of Nuba.

History

Founded in first half of the 19th century by the Egyptians, El Obeid was an important center caravaneer on the road of the Chad to the Red Sea. It was destroyed mainly by the madhists in 1883.

Economy

The city is today an important center of trade of the Gum arabic. Its Souk is also active for the Oléagineux and the agricultural produce. El Obeid has an airport.

Places and monuments

The city has a cathedral and a museum.

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