Half a dozen groups of Central Sudanic languages are generally accepted as valid. They are customarily divided into East and West branches.
Blench (2023) Blench cites the following classification: }} Sinyar–Formona is sparsely documented and its placement in the western branch is "provisional".
Starostin (2016) Starostin (2016) finds support for Eastern Central Sudanic (
Lendu,
Mangbetu,
Lugbara, etc., concentrated in the northeast corner of DR Congo) but not for the western division, which would include
Bongo–Bagirmi and
Kresh scattered across Chad, the CAR, and South Sudan. }} Starostin (2011) notes that the poorly attested language
Mimi of Decorse is suggestive of Central Sudanic, though he provisionally treats it as an isolate. Boyeldieu (2010) states that the inclusion of Kresh has yet to be demonstrated, but Starostin (2016) finds good support, with Birri being its closest relative.
Bender (1992) Lionel Bender (1992) classifies the Central Sudanic languages as follows, with Central Sudanic bifurcating into a
Peripheral branch and a
Central branch. •
Central Sudanic •
Peripheral •
Moru–Madi • Moru (Miza, etc.) • Avukaya, Logo, Keliko • Madi (Lokai, etc.) •
Mangbutu: Mamvu; Balese •
Mangbetu: Meje, Asua, Aka, Lombi •
Kresh: Kresh; Aja •
Baadha (
Baledha,
Lendu) •
Central •
Bagirmi-Sara • Barma (Bagirmi) • Sara-Mbay • Sara-Ngambay, Sara Kaba • Baka •
Yulu-Binga •
Fongoro • Shemya (
Sinyar) •
Bongoid • Bongo • Fer (Kara) • Modo, Jur Beli ==Numerals==