The Enduring Legacy of Imperialism on the Sudan and South Sudan
Following the independence of the Sudan from Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1956, the Sudanese administration and population experienced the consequences and events of social division and ethno-religious tension between the Southern and Northern regions of the Sudan. With these tensions beginning in the early 20th century as a tactic of the British to remain in physical control over Sudan, the division between the North and the South has grown significantly by which post-independence Sudan has experienced severe bouts with Civil War due to the inequalities and social oppression presented in situations where Northern Arab Muslims made efforts to establish a non-secular Islamic rule over the entire state. Following the conclusion of the Second Sudanese Civil War in 2005, administrative officials within the Sudan began discussing the possibility of forming a separate nation due to the distinct ethnic, religious, and social division present between the South and North of Sudan. As a result of these continual meetings and social influence through protests, on July 9th 2011, South Sudan was declared a sovereign and independent state from the Sudan with the tasks of establishing a stable administrative system, a fair and diverse social structure, and a flourishing and functional economy. This event not only proved to be a pivotal point in the historical lineage of Sudan, but proved to the entire global community that in times of great tension, division, and oppression independence will prove to be the ultimate factor in establishing peace and internal unity.