ABSTRACT
The most stunning development in Port Sudan in the years since independence has been, the explosion of the city’s population. On top of rural to urban migrants trying to escape the devastating effects of the continuing drought in eastern Sudan was added a new element in the 1970s and 1980s: a massive influx of Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees fleeing political and economic upheavals in their homelands. The wave of violence undoubtedly reflected an enmity to the refugees that had become deeply entrenched over the previous decade and that went far beyond questions of morality. The relatively large number of skilled and semi-skilled male refugees in Port Sudan generally found gainful employment. Despite the obvious advantages of industrial development in a country’s only important seaport, efforts to expand Port Sudan’s manufacturing base have been limited and without great success.
