The history of civil strife in Sudan can be traced to its colonial history. Between 1899 and 1956, Sudan was jointly administered by both the British and the Egyptians. This created a divide between the Arab-Muslim north and the Christian and animist south in Sudan’s post-independence era, as the two sides tussled for power and resources. The First Sudanese Civil War, which commenced in 1955, was halted by the signing of the Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972. However, peace disintegrated once again when the Sudanese government established Sharia law throughout Sudan in 1983. The Dinka and Nuer tribes in the south refused to convert to Islam, setting off the Second Sudanese Civil War.

The conflict was further fueled by a struggle for power and resource allocation. The southern region of Sudan was rich in natural resources, but the population there was continually marginalized and underrepresented in the national government (“Sudan Civil War: A Deep Dive Into History and Implications.” Sudanese American Physicians Association). These differences led to discontent, with the southerners carrying out an armed uprising and forming the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA).