Sudan: Historic Timeline of the War-torn Nation

Sudan is a country of pyramids, deserts, and the Nile River. It has fascinated historians for centuries. However, it has also been fraught with war, slavery and hardship. Here is a timeline of Sudanese history from its inception to its current status on the brink of civil war:

1805-1899: Present-day Sudan and South Sudan were colonized for millennia. The Ottoman Empire and Funj Sultanate conquered much of the former Nubian Empire. The area in north is primarily Arab, while the south is Black African and was the main focus of slave raids.

1900-1947: Sudan essentially became a British colony, with Egypt and the United Kingdom (U.K.) agreeing on joint governance. However, more British missionaries and resources went to the northern part of Sudan, leaving the southern part underdeveloped and lacking infrastructure.

1947-1956: An advisory council agreed to better integrate the southern and northern provinces. Five years later, the Egyptian Revolution severed the tie with Britain, which suddenly gave Sudan independence from both Egypt and the U.K.

1955-1972: Months before Sudan’s official independence, the First Sudanese Civil War broke out. It lasted 17 years. The Sudanese government represented the north. A separatist movement aimed to give the south independence. This led to the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (SSAR).

1983-2005: In 1983, Sudanese president Gaafar Nimeiry declared the country an Islamic state and revoked the autonomy of the majority-Christian SSAR which led to the 2nd Sudanese Civil War. The 22 year long war is the longest in African history and killed 27,000 people.

2010-2011: South Sudanese politician Salva Kiir Mayardit was elected president of Southern Sudan, and facilitated a vote on secession from Sudan. Over 98% voted to secede. On July 9, 2011, South Sudan was first recognized as an independent nation.

2013-2015: Threats of a coup'd'etat led to President Kiir firing his entire cabinet. Two years after achieving independence, South Sudan broke out into civil war. Millions of Sudanese people were displaced causing food shortages and diseases. A peace treaty was signed in 2015.

2016-2018: Kiir reinstated former Vice President Machar. This caused tension between government forces in support of Kiir and soldiers loyal to Machar. Fighting led to Machar fleeing Sudan. Kiir appointed Taban Deng Gai as his vice president which many feared would lead to war.

2018-2023: In September, 2018, a second agreement was signed between the South Sudanese government and its main political opposition. In 2020, Machar was re-sworn in as Vice President. Sudan has aimed for peace, but continuous in-fighting has kept it on the brink of war.