CHRONOLOGY-Key Events During Sudan’s 21-Year Civil War

LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) – Following is a chronology of some of the main events since Sudan’s civil war began 21 years ago:

1983 – The government, dominated by northern Arabs, adopts aspects of Islamic sharia law and later martial law. Relations with mostly animist and Christian south deteriorate.

1983-84 – Rebels organize Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

April/May 1986 – Sadiq al-Mahdi becomes prime minister and starts three years of chaotic coalition government.

June 30, 1989 – Lieutenant-General Omar Hassan al-Bashir takes power in bloodless coup.

Jan 1, 1992 – Bashir announces return to civilian rule.

1992 – A government offensive seizes southern territory, including the SPLA headquarters at Torit.

May 1994 – Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional conflict-solving body, urges self-determination for the south. Khartoum quits IGAD talks.

March 1996 – Elections keep Bashir in power.

April 1997 – Khartoum signs deal with South Sudan Independence Movement and other rebel groups, isolating SPLA.

Aug 1997 – Government, facing military losses and regional isolation, says it will return to the IGAD process.

Oct 29, 1997 – Peace talks open in Nairobi.

Nov 4, 1997 – United States imposes sweeping economic sanctions on Sudan, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism.
Dec 1999 – Bashir removes Islamist ideologue Hassan al-Turabi, formerly his chief ally, from positions of power.

Feb 2000 – Talks resume but end after five days when rebels accuse Sudan of indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

Feb 2001 – Turabi arrested for signing deal with rebels.

Sept 28, 2001 – United Nations lifts five-year-old sanctions against Sudan. Unilateral U.S. sanctions remain in force.

2002:

July 20 – Five weeks of talks in Machakos, Kenya, yield government and SPLM deal on key issues of religion and self-determination. They sign the “Machakos protocol.”

July 27 – Bashir meets rebel chief John Garang for first time, but negotiations collapse in September after rebels seize strategic garrison town of Torit.

Oct 15 – Government and SPLA sign cease-fire for duration of latest round of peace talks, the first such truce.

2003:

Jan 27 – Sudanese rebels say government captures southern town of Ler in renewed fighting, contravening cease-fire terms.

Sept 25 – Government and SPLA sign security deal, clearing a major stumbling block in peace talks.

Oct 13 – Government releases Islamist leader Turabi.
2004:

Jan 7 – Government and rebels sign accord on how to share the country’s wealth when war ends.

May 26 – Government and SPLA sign three protocols resolving outstanding issues, clearing way for full peace deal.