Sudan’s capital Khartoum is preparing to review the names of a number of its streets, with some foreign and other existing names potentially being replaced by Sudanese ones reflecting the country’s national, historical and cultural identity.
Amira al-Sheikh Ahmed Suleiman, secretary-general of Sudan’s National Committee for Geographical Names, said the committee was drawing up new standards governing how streets are named.
Speaking to the state-run Sudan News Agency, SUNA, on Friday, Suleiman said the review would include some foreign street names, names the committee considers inconsistent with public standards, and unusually long names that may need to be reconsidered.
She said future proposals would place greater emphasis on Sudanese names with national significance, as part of efforts to connect street names more closely with Sudan’s cultural, social and historical heritage.
Her remarks came during an inspection tour of several streets in Khartoum, including Nile Street, Palace Street, Biyoyokwan Street, Count Mukhlis Street, Katrina Street and Pilot Murad Street.
Officials inspected existing street names and signs during the tour.
Suleiman said Sudan’s war had resulted in the removal or destruction of a number of street signs across the capital, adding another challenge to efforts to reorganise Khartoum’s geographical naming system.
She said the National Committee for Geographical Names is the official body responsible for naming and renaming streets, cities, villages and geographical landmarks across Sudan, in accordance with established legal procedures.
According to SUNA, the committee aims to use the review to address names that do not meet the standards currently being developed and to replace some of them with names reflecting Sudanese national identity and cultural heritage.
The process could eventually lead to significant changes to Khartoum’s street map, although any new names would still require the committee to complete its standards and follow the necessary legal procedures before they are formally adopted.
