Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North Africa. In 2010, Sudan was considered the 17th-fastest-growing economy[1] in the world and the rapid development of the country largely from oil profits even when facing international sanctions was noted by The New York Times in a 2006 article.[2] Because of the secession of South Sudan, which contained over 80 percent of Sudan's oilfields, the economic forecast for Sudan in 2011 and beyond is uncertain.