Sudan is divided into 18 governates (also known as states or wilayat), which constitute the primary level of administrative division in the country. These governates serve as the principal units for regional governance, responsible for implementing national policies and managing local affairs within their territories. Each governate is headed by a governor (wali) and maintains its own administrative structure to oversee essential public services, including education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and security. The governates also handle budget allocation, tax collection, and coordinate with the central government in Khartoum on matters of national importance. This administrative framework allows for decentralized governance across Sudan's diverse geographic regions, from the arid deserts of the north to the more fertile areas in the south and west.