Both countries are among the most diverse in Africa. Minority Rights Group describes Sudan as home to more than five hundred ethnic groups speaking over four hundred languages. Arabic is the official language and widely spoken, and many Sudanese identify as Arab. Others belong to groups such as the Nubians in the north, the Beja in the east, the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa of Darfur, and the many peoples of the Nuba Mountains, each with their own languages. Most Sudanese are Muslim, and there are Christian communities as well.
South Sudan has more than seventy languages. The Dinka are the largest group, followed by the Nuer, with many others including the Shilluk, Murle, Azande and Bari. Christianity and traditional beliefs are the most common faiths, and some South Sudanese are Muslim. Many South Sudanese also speak Arabic, often a local form of it, as well as English, which became an official language after independence. People who grew up in refugee camps in Kenya or Ethiopia may speak Swahili or Amharic too.
For language access, the name of the country tells you very little. A Sudanese person from Darfur may prefer Arabic for official business but speak Fur or Masalit at home. A South Sudanese elder may be most comfortable in Dinka or Nuer. Dinka and Nuer are distinct languages, and each has several dialects. Assigning an Arabic interpreter to someone because they are from Sudan or South Sudan can leave them struggling to follow, especially on complex topics like health care, disability services or appeals.
Conflict history can also matter. Some fighting in South Sudan has followed Dinka and Nuer lines, and violence in Darfur targeted specific groups. Most people will work fine with any qualified interpreter, and most interpreters are neutral professionals. Still, some may be uneasy about an interpreter from a group associated with the violence they fled, or about confidentiality in a close community. Ask every person the same neutral questions: What language would you like to use? Is this interpreter a good fit for you? Honor requests for a different interpreter without asking for a reason.
