Background Knowledge
This case study is taking place in Sudan. It is mostly about whether Sudan should be and Islamic or Christian State. It is mostly fought between the Christians and Muslims.
The majority of the North was Arab Muslims, while the majority of the South was less developed Christian and traditional African. After independence was gained in 1956, tensions rose because most of the people in government were Muslim Northerners who wanted Sudan to be an Islamic State. This led to policies that upset the Christian Southerners, leading to a war. This war lasted over 17 years and killed a half million people. The war ended when the Addis Ababa Agreement was made after Nimeiry came to power because the Southerners supported him. In exchange for ended the uprising, the South was granted one southern administrative region with defined powers. After this, the second Sudanese war was started when the south tried to gain independence. After this war, a peace agreement was signed giving southern Sudan autonomy for six years after which they could vote for independence. When the time came, 99% of the South Sudan population voted to be an independent country. |
Key Events
1955 - Equatoria Corps uprising in the South.
1956 - Sudan officially gained independence.
1962 - The first civil war begins and is led by the Anya Nya movement.
1972 - Addis Ababa Agreement signed. The First Sudanese Civil War ends.
1983 - President Numayri enacts sharia as state law; The Second Sudanese Civil War breaks out again in the South between government forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
1989 - Omar al-Bashir takes control of the government and aims to impose Islamic law throughout the country.
1993 - John Paul II travels to Sudan and urges people to end the war, and he calls attention to the suffering Christians in the south.
2005 - The Second Sudanese Civil War ends with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
2009 - The International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for President Bashir.
1956 - Sudan officially gained independence.
1962 - The first civil war begins and is led by the Anya Nya movement.
1972 - Addis Ababa Agreement signed. The First Sudanese Civil War ends.
1983 - President Numayri enacts sharia as state law; The Second Sudanese Civil War breaks out again in the South between government forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
1989 - Omar al-Bashir takes control of the government and aims to impose Islamic law throughout the country.
1993 - John Paul II travels to Sudan and urges people to end the war, and he calls attention to the suffering Christians in the south.
2005 - The Second Sudanese Civil War ends with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
2009 - The International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for President Bashir.
Discussion Questions
1. What are the historical origins of Sudan’s religious divides?
Sudan has been split between the poor, southern Christians and the wealthy, northern Muslims. The northerners wanted to make the country an Islamic state, but the south didn't agree with that, so they started a war.
2. How were domestic religious forces and identities involved?
A large part of the war was caused because of persecution to the Christians and Sudanese held traditional indigenous beliefs. They were very upset because many laws were favoring Muslims and discriminated against the native and Christian beliefs.
3. How important are international religious and political forces?
In the 1960s, the World Council of Churches and the All African Conference of Churches helped build trust with the two sides. Their efforts, coupled with Nimeiry’s coming to power in Khartoum in 1969 and the Southerners’ initial support of him, led to the Addis Ababa Agreement of March 1972 officially ending the conflict.
4. What role have socioeconomic factors played?
Many of the people were very tired of war and just wanted to settle something. Also war costs a lot of money especially to the government, so the government was also ready to be done with the war. Unfortunately the government didn't want to lose South Sudan because they provided a lot of money with oil they found. This drug the war out a little longer as the government had to decide what to do.
Sudan has been split between the poor, southern Christians and the wealthy, northern Muslims. The northerners wanted to make the country an Islamic state, but the south didn't agree with that, so they started a war.
2. How were domestic religious forces and identities involved?
A large part of the war was caused because of persecution to the Christians and Sudanese held traditional indigenous beliefs. They were very upset because many laws were favoring Muslims and discriminated against the native and Christian beliefs.
3. How important are international religious and political forces?
In the 1960s, the World Council of Churches and the All African Conference of Churches helped build trust with the two sides. Their efforts, coupled with Nimeiry’s coming to power in Khartoum in 1969 and the Southerners’ initial support of him, led to the Addis Ababa Agreement of March 1972 officially ending the conflict.
4. What role have socioeconomic factors played?
Many of the people were very tired of war and just wanted to settle something. Also war costs a lot of money especially to the government, so the government was also ready to be done with the war. Unfortunately the government didn't want to lose South Sudan because they provided a lot of money with oil they found. This drug the war out a little longer as the government had to decide what to do.