Globalization+and+Colonialism

The Sudan was a largely untouched area up until the 1800s when Europeans began entering Africa and dividing it among themselves. Africa up until this point had not been of much interest to colonizers. However their large supply of raw materials and the growing slave trade made Africa much more appealing in Europeans' eyes.



From 1885 to 1899, Sudan was under control of the Islamic Mahdists. However, in he 1890s the British wished to regain control of Sudan and the Nile River. The British campaign over Sudan ended in the Battle of Omdurman on September 2, 1898. The battle resulted in the Mahdists losing power and the instatement of a British-Egyptian ruler and was treated as an English colony. Sudan was ruled as two seperate nations, the Northern Muslim and Southern Christian from 1924 to 1956. This form of rule was extremely controversial as Egypt wanted Sudan to be united with Egypt. The British resisted this which led to further political unrest and eventually it was put up to a vote by the Sudanese as to whether or not they wanted to remain under British control.

 In 1955 a civil war between the North and South erupted because the South was afraid of Northern domination after gaining independence The two areas had been frought with tension for a while. In 1924 it was made illegal to cross from the North to South and vice versa (in order to stop the spread of various diseases as well as the influence of the other religion). Fighting lasted from 1955 until 1972 with the Addis Ababa Agreement. This treaty stopped fighting for ten years and allowed the South to self govern.

 In 1983 the war was reignited when President Nimeiry violated the Addis Ababa Agreement by attempting to establish a federal Sudan with Southern states. The fighting was not stopped even with attempts from US President Jimmy Carter's issue of a ceasefire. Nimeiry lost power in the 1980s to a democratic government that the South refused to negotiate with or recognize. Colonel al-Bashir led a military coup in June 1989 and gained power. Al-Bashir created an Islamic legal code and abolished all political parties. Fighting and violence continued for over twenty years.

 The Nairobi Comprehensive Peace Agreement of January 2005 allowed Southern Sudan autonomy for six years after which there would be a referendum for independence. Since the agreement was formed there has still been violence. January of 2011 independence was put to vote and a large majority voted for it. Sudanese independence is set to begin in July of 2011.