Study On Southern Sudan Problem During The Period Of Nimeiri (1969-1985)

Sudan is not only the largest country in African continent, but also one of the world's poorest countries confirmed by the United Nations. Southern Sudan abounds in all kinds of natural resources, but southern Sudanese haven't enjoyed happiness life brought by abundant resources, on the contrary they have been living in a miserable life brought by turmoil. Domestic and foreign academic circles have paid much attention to this problem, and also produced a number of research results. From the root of the Southern Sudan problem:the differences and conflicts formed in history between northern Arab people in Sudan and southern black people about race, religion, culture and development level, they didn't dissolve and avert gradually accompanied by the foundation Sudan Nation-State, in addition disputes were produced between North and South in power allocation, resources sharing after the foundation of Sudan, which resulted in the deterioration of contradictions and conflicts between north and south, ultimately the long period war erupted in Sudan.The reign of Nimeiry (1969-1985) is an important historical period in which Southern Sudan Problem evolved from a series of complex changes. Southern Sudan Problem experienced the change of "war-peace-war" in this period, in which peace period was 11 years and war period was six years. So we can say, it has important value for thinking and researching the status and effect of Sudan Southern Problem in the process of Sudan development history development to trace back the extremely complex changes about Southern Sudan Problem in the period of Nimeiry.Through expounding the historical origin, causes of Sudan Southern Problem, this paper explains and analyzes the formation, evolution and result of Southern Sudan Problem in the period of Nimeiry, in the end experience and gain or loss about Nimeiry in solving of southern Sudan problems are explored. The paper falls into there sections including the exordium, main body and concluding remarks.The exordium focuses on introducing the reasons why to select this subject and research status at home and abroad. The main body is divided into two chapters:The first chapter briefly introduces the Sudan Southern Problem before Nimeiry came into power, that is, southern Sudan problem before Sudan independence and 1969～1956 southern Sudan problem. Southern Sudan problem was a historical problem form the origin of Sudan, which has a profound historical root. However, after the foundation of new Sudan country, new governments and their leaders did not face and deal with this complicated historical problem inherited from history, but chose to evade and ignore, ultimately it led to the problem deteriorated, resulting in the outbreak of the Civil War.The second chapter is the core of this paper. Through three time frame division, namely the prior period of Nimeiry's reign (1969-1972), the middle period (1972～1983) and the later period (1983～1985), on that basis it elaborates and analyzes southern Sudan problem in this period. In 1969, after Nimeiry came into power, he started to commit himself to north-south reconciliation. Accompanied by the signing of the agreement of Addis Ababa in 1972, the north and south realized historic reconciliation, southern Sudan gains autonomy, the Sudan central government also promised to implement a series of policies and measures to develop southern Sudan. During peaceful time of 1972～1983, the southern Sudan attained some developed achievement to some degree, but its marginal status didn't change. At the same time, some commitment of the central government was not implemented, but with the situation changed, the central government broke faith with south, which resulted in the second civil war. In the final two years of Nimeiry's ruling (1983～1985), domestic situation in Sudan was in turmoil and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement led by John Garang expanded gradually. At the same time, Nimeiry lost factions of the strength and the support of his people by degrees, had to step down finally. After that, southern Sudan problem highlighted once again. The third chapter is the concluding remarks. This part focused on summarizing experience and loss on solving the southern Sudan problem in Nimeiry period. Nimeiry took the helm of Sudan for sixteen years, relative to human history it's short, but it was a segment of extraordinary historical period for Sudan in the historical choice of peace and war and the Sudan people who desired for peace. In this period, dramatic frequent changes arose dramatic frequent changes:from war to peace, and again from peace into war. This is a problem worth pondering:Why South failed to overcome all kinds of external factors and realized lasting peace, but chose war again after achieved precious peace. During 1969 to 1985, Nimeiry and his government made some progress in solving southern Sudan problem, but in the process of national reconciliation between the north Arabs and African blacks, they didn't deal with these problems below:how to view the existing north-south differences in history perspective, how to realize the Christianity and Islam peaceful coexistence, how to power distribution and resource sharing, etc. Among them many problems in the current Sudan countries still exists.Essentially, the final resolution of this problem needs trust, understanding, accommodation and reconciliation between the north and south in a series of complex historical and realistic issues. As long as both sides with sincerity and goodwill, we believe that north-south differences will be tackled during the transition period, thus realize the north-south permanent peace.