# Suakin

> port in north-eastern Sudan on the west coast of the Red Sea

**Wikidata**: [Q571215](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q571215)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suakin)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/suakin

## Summary

Suakin is a historic port city located in north-eastern Sudan on the west coast of the Red Sea, situated at coordinates 19.1025°N, 37.33°E in what is now Red Sea State. Once the capital of the Ottoman Habesh eyalet province established in 1554, Suakin served as a crucial maritime hub for trade between the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and the Mediterranean world, with a population of approximately 43,337 residents as of 2009. The city, whose official name is سواكن (Suwākin), is notable for its distinctive coral-stone architecture and was historically more prominent than the modern port of Port Sudan.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: North-eastern Sudan, west coast of the Red Sea, in Red Sea State, Port Sudan District
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 19.1025°N, Longitude 37.33°E
- **Population**: 43,337 (as of 2009)
- **Historical status**: Capital of the Ottoman Habesh eyalet province (established 1554)
- **Country history**: Part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (1899–1956), then Sudan (from 1956)
- **UN/LOCODE**: SDSWA
- **Official name**: سواكن (Arabic)
- **Aliases**: Sawakin, Suaquem, スアキン島, スワーキン島, Suakin
- **Heritage designations**: Ramsar site; Tentative World Heritage Site (since September 1, 1994)
- **Instance**: City (large human settlement)
- **Image**: Mesquita d'al-Geyf mosque (Wikimedia Commons)
- **VIAF ID**: 152466754
- **FAST ID**: 1220614
- **GND ID**: 4567076-6
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n82085874
- **GeoNames ID**: 367544
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID**: 288512635
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 11707861
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -13782
- **Wikipedia languages**: Available in 26 language versions (Arabic, English, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, etc.)
- **Sitelink count**: 29

## FAQs

**What type of administrative region is Suakin located in?**
Suakin is located in Red Sea State, Sudan, specifically within Port Sudan District, and sits on the west coast of the Red Sea.

**What was Suakin's historical significance during the Ottoman period?**
Suakin served as the capital of the Habesh eyalet, an Ottoman province established in 1554, making it a key administrative center for Ottoman interests in the Horn of Africa region.

**What is the historical relationship between Suakin and modern Sudan?**
Suakin was part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan from 1899 to 1956, after which it became part of the independent Republic of Sudan when it achieved sovereignty on January 1, 1956.

**What heritage protections does Suakin have?**
Suakin is designated as a Ramsar site (wetland conservation) and has been on the Tentative World Heritage List since September 1, 1994, recognizing its cultural and historical significance.

**What is Suakin's connection to maritime navigation?**
Suakin has been assigned the UN/LOCODE SDSWA, indicating its status as a recognized port in international maritime commerce.

## Why It Matters

Suakin matters because it represents one of the oldest continuously inhabited port cities on the Red Sea coast, with roots stretching back to Ottoman times when it served as the administrative capital of the Habesh eyalet. Its strategic position made it a vital node in ancient trade networks connecting the Arabian Peninsula, Indian Ocean trade routes, and Mediterranean markets. The city's coral-stone architecture, exemplified by structures like the Mesquita d'al-Geyf mosque, represents a unique architectural heritage that distinguishes it from other Red Sea settlements.

The city's historical significance outweighs its current modest population, as Suakin was historically more important than neighboring Port Sudan before that modern port was developed. Its designation as a Ramsar site and Tentative World Heritage Site reflects international recognition of both its ecological importance and cultural heritage. Understanding Suakin provides insight into the historical dynamics of Red Sea trade, Ottoman provincial administration, and the cultural exchange between African and Arabian civilizations along one of the world's most historically significant maritime corridors.

## Notable For

- Historical capital of the Ottoman Habesh eyalet province (1554 onwards)
- One of the oldest continuously inhabited ports on the Red Sea
- Unique coral-stone architectural heritage
- Formerly more significant than modern Port Sudan
- Designated Ramsar site for wetland conservation
- Tentative World Heritage Site since 1994
- Multi-millennium role in Red Sea maritime trade networks
- Crossroads of African, Arabian, and Ottoman cultural influences

## Body

### Historical Administration and Political Status

Suakin holds a distinguished place in the administrative history of the region as the capital of the Ottoman Habesh eyalet, a province established in 1554. This status made it the primary administrative center for Ottoman interests in the Horn of Africa region, governing territories that encompassed parts of modern-day Eritrea, eastern Sudan, and the Red Sea coast. The city's prominence during this period established it as a center of governance, commerce, and Islamic scholarship.

Following the collapse of Ottoman influence in the region, Suakin's political status evolved through British colonial administration. From 1899 to 1956, the city was part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, a joint British and Egyptian colonial entity. This period brought significant administrative changes but also preserved Suakin's regional importance. Upon Sudan's independence on January 1, 1956, Suakin became part of the new Republic of Sudan, specifically within Red Sea State and Port Sudan District.

### Geographic Location and Demographics

Suakin is positioned at 19.1025°N latitude and 37.33°E longitude, placing it on the western shore of the Red Sea in what is now Red Sea State, Sudan. The city falls within Port Sudan District, reflecting its administrative integration with the modern Sudanese state. According to data from 2009, Suakin had a population of 43,337 residents, making it a medium-sized settlement by Sudanese standards.

The city's location on the Red Sea coast has historically defined its economic and cultural identity. The maritime environment, combined with the arid surrounding terrain, created unique challenges and opportunities for its inhabitants, shaping everything from architectural practices to trade patterns.

### Heritage and Conservation Status

Suakin carries significant international recognition for its cultural and environmental heritage. It has been designated as a Ramsar site, indicating its importance as a wetland area requiring international conservation protection. Additionally, the city was inscribed on the Tentative World Heritage List on September 1, 1994, recognizing its outstanding universal value as a cultural heritage site.

The Tentative World Heritage listing specifically references "Suakin" as the site name, acknowledging the city's historical significance and architectural heritage. This dual designation reflects both the natural importance of the Red Sea coastal ecosystem and the built heritage that Suakin represents.

### Architecture and Cultural Landmarks

The city is notable for its distinctive coral-stone architecture, a building tradition that utilized coral harvested from the Red Sea to construct buildings particularly suited to the local climate and available materials. A prominent example is the Mesquita d'al-Geyf mosque, an Islamic religious structure that exemplifies this architectural tradition. An image of this mosque is preserved in Wikimedia Commons, documenting this important cultural landmark.

The architectural character of Suakin distinguishes it from other Red Sea ports and reflects the synthesis of local building practices with influences from the Arabian Peninsula and broader Islamic world.

### International Identification and Authority Records

Suakin is catalogued in numerous international authority systems, reflecting its documentation in global knowledge bases. The city has been assigned the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) identifier 152466754, enabling linking across international library catalogs. The FAST (Faceted Application of Subject Terminology) ID 1220614 provides subject heading access, while the German National Library (GND) assigned identifier 4567076-6 further enables bibliographic documentation.

The Library of Congress Authority ID n82085874 connects Suakin to American library cataloguing systems, while the GeoNames ID 367544 provides geographic database identification. OpenStreetMap documents the city with Node ID 288512635 and Relation ID 11707861, mapping its contemporary physical location. The GNS Unique Feature ID -13782 completes the geographic identification suite.

### Global Knowledge Representation

Suakin appears across multiple language versions of Wikipedia, with articles available in 26 languages including Arabic, English, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and many others. This extensive multilingual coverage reflects the city's international historical significance and interest. The total sitelink count of 29 across Wikimedia projects indicates moderate but sustained attention in the global knowledge ecosystem.

The city is categorized in Wikimedia Commons under "Suakin," preserving visual documentation of its landmarks and daily life. The encyclopædia_britannica_online_id "place/Sawakin" provides additional encyclopedic coverage, while various national library authority records from France, Spain, and Israel further document the city's presence in international bibliographic systems.

### Economic and Maritime Significance

The UN/LOCODE SDSWA identifies Suakin as a recognized port in international maritime commerce. Throughout its history, the city functioned as a crucial intermediary in trade networks connecting the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, the Indian Ocean world, and Mediterranean markets. The port handled goods ranging from textiles and spices to gold and enslaved persons, reflecting the complex economic dynamics of historical Red Sea trade.

While Port Sudan eventually eclipsed Suakin in modern maritime importance, the city's historical role established it as a foundational element in understanding the economic history of the Red Sea region.

### Contemporary Administrative Structure

In the modern Sudanese state, Suakin operates within a defined administrative framework. The city is located in Red Sea State, one of Sudan's 18 states, specifically within Port Sudan District. This administrative structure reflects the country's federal organization, with states possessing significant local governance authority while remaining integrated into the national framework. The administrative boundaries were formalized in 1994, when Red Sea State was established, placing Suakin within its current jurisdictional context.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki/Q818878)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. GeoNames
6. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
7. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File