Social Studies Spring Break Packet History of South Sudan. Sudan

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1 Section 1 : Read and annotate each section of the text below. Then answer the questions that follow Sudan Sudan, once the largest and one of the most geographically diverse states in Africa, split into two countries in July 2011 after the people of the south voted for independence. The government of Sudan gave its blessing for an independent South Sudan, where the mainly Christian people had for decades been struggling against rule by the Arab Muslim north. However, various outstanding issues especially the question of sharing oil revenues and where the exact border is have continued to create tensions between the two countries. Sudan has long been troubled by conflict. Two rounds of north south civil war, a war between the government and the rebels, cost the lives of 1.5 million people, and a continuing conflict in the western region of Darfur has driven two million people from their homes and killed more than 200,000. President Omar Bashir currently faces war crimes charges over the incidents that occurred in Darfur. History In 1956, Sudan gained independence from England and Egypt. Independence was quickly overshadowed by unresolved tensions with the south, which flared up into a full scale civil war later that year. The new government was not ready to deal with the war so it went on until Although peace was established in 1972, fighting broke out again in 1983.

2 This second civil war went on until The war caused widespread famine, or food shortages, which caused a lot of people to starve. Millions of people were forced from their homes, causing them to become refugees. Between 2002 and 2005, the Sudanese government and southern rebel groups signed several peace agreements. The southern rebels gained a voice in the national government, and a vote on southern independence occurred in January Nearly 99% of the population voted for independence. South Sudan seceded in July 2011, following a vote. In 2003 a separate conflict began in Darfur. Darfur is in western Sudan. The United Nations has accused pro government Arab military groups of a campaign of ethnic cleansing, the mass killing of a group of people based on their ethnicity or religion, against non Arab and non Muslim locals. In 2008 the United Nations began a peace keeping mission. However, the violence continues. Questions 1. What type of people generally live in Sudan? 2. What has continued to create tensions between Sudan and South Sudan? 3. Explain the issues Sudan s new government had to face after independence. 4. Define the following key terms: a. civil war b. famine c. refugee d. ethnic cleansing 5. Explain what is going on in Darfur.

3 South Sudan South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in July 2011 as the outcome of a 2005 peace deal that ended Africa's longest running civil war. An overwhelming majority of South Sudanese voted in January 2011 to separate from Sudan and become Africa's first new country since Eritrea split from Ethiopia in The young state soon jumped into a new crisis in December 2013 caused by a power struggle between the president and his vice president, whom he had fired. Fighting between the government troops (those that support the president) and rebel factions (those that support the ex vice president) erupted, causing another civil war. Within weeks, the conflict had killed thousands and prompted more than 800,000 to flee their homes. Not to mention, friction between Sudan and South Sudan has been ongoing since their split in Geography Formed from the 10 southernmost states of Sudan, South Sudan is a land of expansive grassland, swamps, and tropical rain forest straddling both banks of the Nile. It is highly diverse both ethnically and linguistically. Among the largest ethnic groups are the Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk. Unlike the predominantly Muslim population of Sudan, the South Sudanese follow traditional religions, while a minority are Christians. Economy Long based on subsistence agriculture (farming), South Sudan's economy is now highly oil dependent. Despite the potential oil wealth, South Sudan is one of Africa's least developed countries due to all the fighting it has witnessed in its short existence.

4 Conflicts Alongside the oil issue, several border disputes with Sudan continue to strain ties. Residents of some border states between the two countries still have to decide whether to join south or north. The election is being held up by a conflict over land between farmers of the pro South Sudan Dinka/Ngok people and cattle herding Misseriya Arab tribesmen. Inside South Sudan, a cattle raiding feud between rival ethnic groups in Jonglei state has left hundreds of people dead and some 100,000 displaced since independence. Several rebel forces opposed to the new South Sudan government have emerged, including the South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) of Peter Gadet. People claim that these forces are funded by Sudan, but they denies any involvement. Questions 1. What is so special about South Sudan s independence? 2. What happened to South Sudan soon after their new found independence? 3. What does ethnically and linguistically mean? 4. Explain the recent change in South Sudan s economy. 5. List AND explain the four main conflicts that are going on in South Sudan.

5 Section 2: Create a timeline of the using the readings above January 2011 July 2011 December 2013

6 Section 3: Write a thesis statement answering the question. Then choose one of your reasons from the thesis statement to write a body paragraph. Question : What are the major sources of conflict between Sudan and South Sudan? Thesis Statement Topic Sentence Evidence Take evidence from the readings on Sudan and South Sudan Explanation of Evidence Explain what the evidence means Commentary 1 Commentary 2 Conclusion