Civil War in Sudan: Timeline
1956: Sudan’s independency from Egypt and Great Britain.
1955-1972: First Civil War: The people of the south rebelled because they did not feel
represented and wanted the south to become independent. The war ended with a peace
treaty granting a measure of autonomy to southern Sudan.
1983-2005: Second Civil War: North and South clash again. The President wanted to
impose his own religion. And he was putting an end to the treaty signed previously.
Renewed armed conflict. Ends thanks to a new treaty signed between the Sudanese
government and rebels. It granted autonomy to southern Sudan for 6 years
2003: The Arabs from the north, known as Janjawids, are moving towards the south of
Darfur to find viable land. They are recruited by the army to fight the rebels and commit
crimes to force the local population to flee. These conflicts have resulted in hundreds of
thousands of displaced people and deaths.
2011: Southern Sudan’s independence: Organisation of a referendum on independence in
southern Sudan. Which is a victory because the majority of the population voted for its
independence.
2013: The Janjawids are integrated into the army and become the Rapid Support Forces
(RSF). their commander is called ‘Hemedti’. They are used to fight rebellions and are
employed as mercenaries abroad.
1989-2019: Omar Al Bashir, a former military officer, came to power in a coup d'etat. He
imposed a totalitarian regime during 30 years. And was gradually weakened by the
independence of southern Sudan and protests in the capital, Karthum. All these events led
to his dismissal by the army with the help of the RSF.
2018-2019: Revolutions against the president Omar Al Bashir,
2019-2021: A sovereignty council was set up, made up of civilians, soldiers and rebel
leaders. The president of the council is Al-Burhan, general of the Sudanese armed forces
(SAF). And seconded by Hemedti, General of the RSF. This council ends in a coup led by Al-
Burhan.
2021-2023: Creation of a second Sovereign Council. Almost all the civilians were replaced.
The General of the SAF wanted to integrate the FSR into the army, but Hemedti refused.
15 April 2023: Fighting begins between the SAF and the FSR. Local populations are victims
of war crimes, executions, rape, looting, torture, etc. The SAF are Ukraine's allies, while
Russia has good relations with the RSF, the war in Sudan is just another stage in the Ukraine-
Russia war
