The region of Kordofan, which lies to the west of the White Nile, is a vast and sparsely populated area. It is inhabited by various tribes, including the Baggara, who are nomadic cattle herders, and the Fur, who are sedentary agriculturalists. The economy of Kordofan is based on agriculture and livestock, with gum arabic being an important export. The region has a rich history, having been a part of the Funj Sultanate and later a province of the Egyptian Khedivate.