Sudan 1983-present: First Sudanese War

The First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972 was caused by overflowing feelings of resentment in the south. They were upset with northern Muslim Arab domination in the country and the fact that Britain did not follow through in creating a federal government. During the next seventeen years of history, the southern people of Sudan experienced civil conflicts and many leaders in the south were itching for regional autonomy or secession (similar to the South in America before and during the Civil War). Another factor that eventually led to an explosion of civil war was the abundance of natural resources that were found in the south. The south was rich in oil fields (70% of Sudan's export earnings comes from oil revenues) and had a more abundant supply and accessibility to water (due to the Nile River and more abundant precipitation). In effect, the water made the south have fertile lands where the north was primarily dry because it borders the Sahara Desert. Eventually, the civil war ended in 1972 with the signing of the Addis Ababa Accords (Agreement).
(For more information on the political activity in Sudan during the First Sudanese Civil War, see blog "Politics of Sudan during the First Sudanese Civil War.")

Top Picture: northern Sudanese landscape
Bottom Picture: southern Sudanese landscape