In February 1953, the UK and Egypt made an agreement with Sudan, providing self-government and self-determination. The difficult period toward independence began with the inauguration of the first parliament in 1954. With the consent of British and Egyptian Governments, Sudan reached independence on January 1, 1956, under a provisional constitution. Khartoum’s government led by the Arabs, reversed promises to the southern people to create a federal system. This led to a rebellion by the southern army officers that began 17 years of civil war (1995-19972).
Sudan has been at war with itself for more than three-quarters of its existence. Since independence, lots of conflict grew in the cultural and religious differences of the people, that have slowed Sudan’s economic and political development, it has also made a displacement of its people. Northerners, who have controlled the country, have tried to unify the country along lines of Arabism and Islam. In 1958, General Ibrahim Abboud seized power and pursued a policy of Arabization and Islamization, for both North and South Sudan, which only mad Southerners angrier. Later on, he was overthrown. Southern leaders were divided into two factions, those who tried to reach a federal solution and those who wanted self-determination.
In May 1969, a group of communist and socialist officers led by Colonel Gaafar Nimeiri seized power. Nimeiri declared socialism, instead of Islamism, for the country granting political independence to the South. Nimeiri was a target of a coup attempt (communists), it failed and Nimeiri ordered a removal of communists. Since Nimeiri didn’t have the support of the communists, he turned to the south; he pursued peace initiatives with Ethiopia and Uganda. He started negotiations with southern rebels, sigend an agreement in Addis Ababa in 1972, that granted political independence to the South. This southern support helped him put down two take over attempts by officers of other regions. Later Nimeiri announced a policy of national reconciliation with all religious forces. In 1983, Nimeiri declared Arabic the official language and transferred the control from the Southern armed forces to the central government. This led to the Second Sudan civil war in January 1983, when southern soilders rebelled instead of following orders.
In April 1985, Nimeiri was overthrown by a popular rebellion in Khartoum. General Swar al-Dahab took control of the government. One of his first acts was to break up Nimeiri’s Socialist Union. On April 1986, elections were held and a civilian government took over. In 1989, an Islamic army led by General Umar al-Bashir, installed the National Islamic Front. The new government intensified the North-South conflict. The Bashir government supported radical Islamist groups and Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Khartoum was now a base from militant Islamist groups: radical movements and terrorist organizations, like Osama Bin Laden’s al Qaida were provided a safe and logistical aid in return of financial support. In the 1990s there was a growing sense of alteration in the western and eastern regions of Sudan from the Arab center. Alienation from the Arab center caused various groups to feel similar to the southern rebels. The policy of the ruling regime toward the South resulted in rebels uniting under the leadership of Colonel John Garang. The rebels were also supported by neighboring countries including Ethiopia, Eritrea and Uganda.
The intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) passed the 1994 Declaration of Principles (DOP) that proposed to have the essential elements necessary to have a just and comprehensive peace settlement; which included a relationship between religion and state, power sharing, wealth sharing, and the right of self-determination for the south. The Sudanese government did not sign the DOP until three years later, after some major losses to the SPLA. That same year (1997) Khartoum government signed a series of agreements, that included the Khartoum, Nuba Mountains, and Fashoda Agreements, that ended military conflict between the government and rebel factions.
In July 2002, the Government of Sudan and the SPL/a reached a historic agreement on the role of state and religion and the right of southern Sudan to self-determination. This agreement known as the Machakos Protocol, concluded the first peace talks. Peace talks resumed and continued during 2003, with discussions that focused on wealth sharing and three contested areas. On December 19, 2004, the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A signed a declaration committing themselves to conclude a final comprehensive peace agreement by December 31, 2004.
In May 2006, the Darfur Peace Agreement is signed by the Sudanese government and the Sudan Liberation Army; a smaller rebel group rejected the deal, and violence continues. In March 31, at least 65 people are killed and 8,000 driven from their homes when the Sudanese militia launched a cross-border raid in Chad. In May 29, 2007 George W. Bush imposed new sanctions on Sudan and asks for international arms to end the genocide. In January 1, 2008 the UNAMID officially takes over the African Union force. Despite the crisis and tension between the north and south, the Sudanese economy is rising, because of oil wealth.
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