First+Sudanese+Civil+War

Dina Barghout October 16, 2009 War Paper/Hinze The first Sudanese Civil war, which is also named Anyana I, or “snake venom” in Madi, started in 1955. The Anyana were a southern Sudanese rebel army who were essentially a separatist group. The civil war all started a bit before Egypt and Britain gave independence to Sudan and the south was afraid that the north would dominate once Egypt and Britain gave them freedom. [1] Previously, “from 1924, it was illegal for people living in Sudan's north to go south of the 10th parallel and for people in the south to go above the 8th parallel. The British were interested in preventing the spread of malaria and other tropical diseases that had ravaged British troops and they wanted to facilitate the spread of Christianity among the predominantly animist population in the south while keep Islamic influences out.” [2] The religious differences in Sudan at this time were a significant factor in the Sudanese Civil War. Northern Sudan, being next to Egypt, was mostly composed of Arabs and Muslims; while in the south, Sudan was mostly Christianity and Animists, which is the belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena. [3] Not only were there strong religious reasons for the guerilla war to start, but also political. [4] On January 1, 1956, Sudan achieved independence from Egypt and Britain. Shortly after, the North tried to establish a federal government. [5] During that time, Anyana was developed and spread throughout Sudan during 1963 through 1969. “The government was unable to take advantage of rebel weaknesses because of their own factionalism and instability.” [6] The government went through a series of leaders, ranging from the Sudanese Communist Party-which was short-lived- to the anti-communist party. They took over and put [|Gaafar Nimeiry], who was in power before the communist party replaced the previous one. Gaafar Nimeiry incorporated Islamic Laws into governmental ones, and announced that severe punishments were put into place for those who decided not to follow. [7] At the same time, many political protests started, which resulted in the government banning all political parties. “For these 17 years, the southern region experienced civil strife, and various southern leaders agitated for regional autonomy or outright secession.” [8] Although the conflict may not seem influential, “by the late 1960s, the war had resulted in the deaths of about 500,000 people. Several hundred thousand more southerners hid in the forests or escaped to refugee camps in neighboring countries.” [9] The immediate effect on the country was simple, that hundreds of thousands of people died. The long-term causes of first civil war of Sudan weren’t effect whatsoever. To end the war: 1972, the Addis Ababa was put into place. [10] Although after 17 years of the first conflict, Sudan’s second civil war started in 1984. “The Addis Ababa accords guaranteed autonomy for a southern region--composed of the three provinces of Equatoria (present-day Al Istiwai), Bahr al Ghazal, and Upper Nile (present-day Aali an Nil)--under a regional president appointed by the national president on the recommendation of an elected Southern Regional Assembly. The High Executive Council or cabinet named by the regional president would be responsible for all aspects of government in the region except such areas as defense, foreign affairs, currency and finance, economic and social planning, and interregional concerns, authority over which would be retained by the national government in which southerners would be represented. Southerners, including qualified Anya Nya veterans, would be incorporated into a 12,000-man southern command of the Sudanese army under equal numbers of northern and southern officers. The accords also recognized Arabic as Sudan's official language, and English as the south's principal language, which would be used in administration and would be taught in the schools.” [11] Basically, the Addis Ababa split the South Sudan into a self-governance region and the North as well. [12][13] Shortly after, this so-called contract was contradicted and the second Sudanese emerged. Currently, according to TIME magazine, Sudan is, once again, on the verge of having another civil war. [14]
 * The First Sudanese Civil War**



[1] Pike, John. "Military." //globalsecurity.org//. John Pike, 27 Apr. 2005. Web. 9 Oct. 2009. . [2] Smitha, Frank E. "Empire in Egypt and Sudan to 1924." //Macrohistory and World// //Report//. N.p., 2001. Web. 16 Oct. 2009. . [3] "First Sudanese Civil War." //Reference Answers//. Answers Corporation, 2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2009. . [4] Coutsoukis, Photius. "Sudan First Civil War." //ITA//. The Library of Congress Country Studies, 2004. Web. 16 Oct. 2009. . [5] ibid. [6] ibid. [7] "Background Note: Sudan." //U.S.// //Department of State: Diplomacy in Action//. N.p., Sept. 2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2009. . [8] Pike, John. “Military.” //Globalsecurity.com// John Pike, 28 Apr. 2005. Web. 9 Oct. 2009.  [9] ibid. [10] ibid. [11] ibid. [12] Crawfurd, Jacob. "Sudan Timeline." //The// // Crawfurd // // Homepage //. N.p., 2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2009. . [13] "Background Note: Sudan." //U.S.// //Department of State: Diplomacy in Action//. N.p., Sept. 2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2009. . [14] Lewis, David. "Civil War Threatens Sudan, Again." //TIME//. N.p., 30 May 2008. Web. 16 Oct. 2009. .