Khartoum - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Being such an impoverished country, there are many NGOs in Sudan, resulting in a fairly large expatriate community. The people we met had almost no restrictions on them: they could own and drive cars and move about freely. They all seemed to like the work they did, but always reached a limit where they knew it was time to leave. Nothing is easy in Sudan, and it eventually takes its toll. - Feb 2018
Ever since the separation of South Sudan from Sudan, a large part of the expatriate community left. Still, there's a small NGO community and the standard diplomatic circuit, so you'll make friends from around the world. People try to enjoy themselves and make the most out of a difficult situation. The problem is that the scene never changes and gets old after a while. Same people, same settings, same activities. - May 2017
Expat community is large for the size of Khartoum. People are here for various reasons and make the best of the situation. You'll hear lots of complaints, but, by and large, people seem to be having a good time. - Nov 2016
I'd estimate a few hundred to 1000 expats in Khartoum. Morale is generally very good. - Oct 2016
It's between 50 and 100. The morale is poor. Not terribly so, but most people going around are just hanging on and you can see it on their faces and the way they interact with each other. Very little is done to improve morale also, and there is the aforementioned split between Villa residents and the have-nots. Post Management isn't terribly concerned about changing the way things are running also, and services--from a terrible cafeteria to dirty swimming pools to the absence of COLA or administrative days to fly back to the U.S. despite the long trip--are not being provided or even considered. - Mar 2016
Counting other posts, I'd say there is a fairly large expat community. The morale at the U.S. embassy is normally very high. - Jun 2015
The American community is not very large, one quarter of which are the American school teachers, half is mostly Embassy, and then others. Morale is not very good; living in Sudan and various other issues keep morale low. - Mar 2015
Morale varies, most people didn't want to get assigned there, lots of entry level. I loved it and was happy there. Some people need a lot of social activities and there's always something going on, there are plenty of extroverts there too that need occasional social activities but were perfectly happy working on their own, reading and relaxing at home, doing their own thing alone. If you can't cope without standard U.S. stuff like Target, microwave meals, Starbucks and drive-throughs, it is not the place for you. - Apr 2014
Several hundred. - Apr 2010
Large. - May 2009
Huge. Enormous UN presence; many NGOs. However, only a small proportion are families, and given the UN decision to evacuate dependants, these could become fewer. - Sep 2008
