Wad Madani

Wad Madani (Arabic: ود مدني, romanized: Wad Madanī; also spelled Wad Medani and known simply as Madani) is a city in Central Sudan and the capital of the Al Jazirah state. Wad Madani lies on the west bank of the Blue Nile, nearly 85 miles (136 km) southeast of Khartoum. It is linked by rail to Khartoum and is the center of a cotton-growing region. The city is also the center of local trade in wheat, peanuts, barley, and livestock. It is also headquarters of the Irrigation Service. In 2008, its population was 345,290. It is home to the University of Gezira, the second biggest public university in Sudan. It also has Wad Medani Ahlia University, a private university.