Islam is the largest
religion in
Sudan, and
Muslims have dominated national government institutions since
independence in 1956. According to UNDP Sudan, the Muslim population is 97%, including numerous
Arab and non-Arab groups. The remaining 3
scribe to either
Christianity or traditional
animist religions. Muslims predominate in all but Nuba Mountains region. The vast majority of Muslims in Sudan adhere to
Sunni Islam of
Maliki school of
jurisprudence, deeply influenced with
Sufism, making Sudan one of the most tolerant Muslim majority countries in the world. There are also some
Shia communities in Khartoum, the capital. The most significant divisions occur along the lines of the
Sufi brotherhoods. Two popular brotherhoods, the
Ansar and the
Khatmia, are associated with the opposition
Umma and
Democratic Unionist Parties respectively.