CHRONOLOGY-Key events during Sudan’s conflict
LONDON, Jan 7 (Reuters) – Sudan’s government and its rebel foes signed an accord on Wednesday on how to share the oil-exporting country’s wealth when Africa’s longest-running conflict comes to an end.
Following is a chronology of some of the main events in Sudan since the conflict began 20 years ago:
1983 – The government, dominated by northern Arabs, adopts aspects of Islamic sharia law and later martial law. Relations with the mostly animist and Christian south deteriorate.
1983-1984 – Rebels organise the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the 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 a bloodless coup.
Jan 1, 1992 – Bashir announces return to civilian rule.
1992 – Government offensive seizes southern territory, including SPLA headquarters at Torit.
May 1994 – The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional conflict solving body, adopts a declaration of principles calling for self-determination for the south. Khartoum pulls out of the IGAD talks.
March 1996 – Legislative and presidential elections keep Bashir in power.
April 1997 – Khartoum signs accord with South Sudan Independence Movement and other rebel groups, isolating SPLA.
Aug 1997 – The government, facing military losses and regional isolation, says it will return to the IGAD process.
Oct 29, 1997 – Government and SPLA start peace talks in Nairobi.
Nov 4, 1997 – United States imposes sweeping economic sanctions on Sudan, saying it was sponsoring terrorism.
Dec 1999 – Bashir removes Islamist ideologue Hassan al-Turabi, formerly his chief ally, from positions of power.
Feb 2001 – Turabi arrested for signing accord with rebels.
Sept 28, 2001 – U.N. lifts sanctions against Sudan after five years. Unilateral U.S. sanctions remain in force.
– 2002:
July 20 – After five weeks of negotiations in the Kenyan town of Machakos, delegates from the government and SPLM agree on key issues of religion and self-determination.
Oct 15 – Sudan’s government and rebel SPLA sign ceasefire for the duration of their latest round of peace talks, the first such truce in 19 years of civil war.
– 2003:
Sept 25 – Government and SPLA sign security deal, clearing major stumbling block in peace talks.
Oct 13 – Sudan releases Islamist leader Turabi.
Dec 21 – Government and rebel negotiators agree in principle how to share oil revenues.
– 2004:
Jan 7 – Sudan government and rebels sign accord on how to share the country’s wealth after the end of the conflict.