1. Gulf of Aden

Why in the News?

1. On August 3, 2025, a boat carrying 154 Ethiopian migrants sank near Yemen’s southern coast in the Gulf of Aden, killing at least 68 people and leaving 74 missing.
2. This sea route is often used by migrants from East Africa to reach Gulf countries, but it is dangerous and controlled by smugglers.
3. In 2024, over 60,000 migrants came to Yemen this way, and more than 500 people lost their lives during the journey.

About Gulf of Aden

1. The Gulf of Aden is a part of the Indian Ocean, situated between the Arabian Peninsula to the north and the Horn of Africa to the south.
2. It links the Red Sea with the Arabian Sea and eventually the Indian Ocean.
3. The gulf gets its name from Aden, a port city on Yemen’s coast.
4. It is about 900 km long, 500 km wide, and covers an area of roughly 1 lakh sq. km.
5. It is bordered by Somalia and the Socotra Islands (Yemen) to the south, Yemen to the north, Arabian Sea to the east, and Djibouti to the west.
6. Connected to the Somali Sea in the south via the Guardafui Channel, and to the Red Sea in the west through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
7. In the west, it narrows into the Gulf of Tadjoura near Djibouti.
8. Separated from the Arabian Sea by the Horn of Africa and the Socotra Islands.
9. The main underwater feature is the Sheba Ridge, part of the Indian Ocean ridge system, running through the gulf’s center.

• It has lower salinity compared to the nearby Red Sea.
• Important nearby cities include Aden, Mukalla, Ahnwar, Balhaf, Berbera, Bosaso, and Djibouti City.
• Major ports are Aden (Yemen), Berbera and Bosaso (Somalia).
• A key part of the Suez Canal shipping route, connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
• Around 11% of global seaborne petroleum passes through it on the way to the Mediterranean or Arabian Seas.

2. Nyala, Sudan

Why in the News?

1. In August 2025, a Sudanese air strike targeted Nyala Airport in the Darfur region, which is under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
2. The strike reportedly destroyed a suspected Emirati military aircraft, killed at least 40 suspected Colombian mercenaries, and destroyed arms and equipment allegedly sent from the UAE to the RSF.
3. Sudanese officials called it a warning against foreign interference in the country’s conflict, while the UAE denied the allegations.

About Nyala, Sudan

1. Nyala is the capital of South Darfur and serves as a major trade and administrative center, historically known for its cosmopolitan character and diverse population.
2. In the ongoing Sudanese conflict, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized key areas of the city, including Nyala Airport, early in the fighting and later established full control.
3. The conflict has caused mass displacement, with hundreds of thousands forced to flee and facing severe challenges in accessing humanitarian aid.
4. Nyala’s past is shaped by social and political tensions, including disputes between settled communities and pastoralist groups, worsened by earlier government policies.
5. The city’s current crisis is part of the broader Sudanese civil war that began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF.
6. Due to its location and infrastructure, Nyala holds strategic importance, especially its airport, which is vital for both civilian and military purposes.

About Sudan

1. Sudan is a country in northeastern Africa
2. Border Countries: South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt, Libya, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
3. It lies along the Sahara Desert in the north and stretches southward to the forests of West Africa and the Congo River basin.
4. The country has a significant Red Sea coastline, providing vital access to the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal.
5. Capital: Khartoum, located at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile
6. Currency: Sudanese Pound (SDG).
7. Colonial History: After Egyptian occupation in the early 19th century, the 1899 agreement established a joint British-Egyptian rule, though Britain held real control.
8. Since independence in 1956 from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule, Sudan has largely been governed by military regimes promoting Islamic-oriented policies.
9. For over a century, Sudan included the territory of present-day South Sudan, home to many sub-Saharan African ethnic groups.

• Before South Sudan’s secession in 2011, Sudan was Africa’s largest country, covering over 8% of the continent and nearly 2% of the world’s land area.
• Much of the nation is made up of deserts and arid grasslands, with vast plains and plateaus dominating its landscape.