The military, led by Gen. Ibrahim Abbud, took power in a bloodless coup in Sudan, repeated in 1969, as power shifted among factions within religious parties.
Southern Sudanese resistance movements in the Christian and traditionalist south united as the Land Freedom Army, later called Anyanya (snake venom); a rise in guerrilla attacks coincided with intensification of the government military campaign and repression.
A military coup in Sudan was led by Col. Ja'fer Nimeiry, who became president under a new constitution in 1972. Nimeiry followed a Nasserist line and aligned his government with the radical Arab states.
The Addis Ababa Agreement gave southern Sudan regional autonomy, recognition of Christianity and the English language, cessation of the war, and the repatriation of 300,000 refugees.
The Nimeiry regime broke the Addis Ababa Agreement by announcing a plan to divide the south into three regions. The introduction of Sharia (Islamic law) throughout the nation ensured renewed civil war.
The military assumed power under Gen. Abdul Rahman Siwar al-Dahhab, after large-scale protests had erupted, prompted by the ending of food and fuel subsidies required by the International Monetary Fund. The new government had to contend with a disastrous drought affecting half of Sudan's people.
Sadiq al-Mahdi was elected prime minister. His government remained unable to defeat the rebels in the south; nor did it implement the agreement reached at Koka Dam in April 1986 to repeal the Sharia, lift the state of emergency, and call a constitutional conference.
