Bangladesh, June 15 -- As Sudan's devastating civil war grinds on, a growing chorus of observers has begun to speculate about the country's eventual breakup. Comparisons with Libya have become increasingly common, with analysts warning that Sudan may be drifting toward a permanent division between rival administrations controlling separate territories. The idea of partition has also found supporters among segments of Sudanese society who view separation as a practical solution to an otherwise intractable conflict.

Yet beneath the surface of military fragmentation lies a more complicated reality. Sudan's geography, economic structure and regional significance are so deeply interconnected that a formal division of the country would likely...