First Sudanese Civil War from 1955 to 1972

The First Sudanese Civil War, which began in 1955 and lasted until 1972, was primarily a conflict between the predominantly Muslim north and the Christian and animist south. This war erupted even before Sudan achieved independence from British-Egyptian rule in 1956. It was fueled by deep-seated cultural and religious divisions, exacerbated by political neglect and economic disparities between the two regions. The northern government's attempts to impose Islamic and Arabic culture on the diverse south led to widespread rebellion. The conflict caused significant loss of life and displacement and laid the foundation for future conflicts in Sudan, including the Second Sudanese Civil War. The Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972 eventually ended this war, granting the south a degree of autonomy, but the underlying tensions remained unresolved, setting the stage for further turmoil in Sudan's history.