Roots of the Sudan Conflict: Colonial Borders, North–South Divide & Oil

Sudan’s protracted conflicts stem from a tangled mix of historical, ethnic, and resource-driven factors:

• Colonial legacy: British-drawn borders ignored ethnic realities, sowing future discord.
• North–South divide: The Arab-Muslim north dominated the Christian-animist south politically and economically.
• Marginalization: Southern and western groups (e.g., Darfur) suffered chronic neglect, fueling rebellions.
• Oil discovery (1970s): Southern reserves became a flashpoint; Khartoum sought control, rebels demanded revenue sharing.
• State repression: Military crackdowns on autonomy movements deepened grievances.
• Proxy wars: Chad, Ethiopia, and others meddled, flooding the region with arms.

These intertwined drivers sparked multiple civil wars, massive displacement, and ongoing peace efforts.