First Sudanese Civil War
Part of the Sudanese Civil Wars and the Arab–Israeli conflict
Location of Sudan (before 2011).svg
Sudan (red) before 2011; the first civil war took place in the country's south
Date18 August 1955 – 27 March 1972
(16 years, 7 months, 1 week and 2 days)
Location
Southern Sudan
Result

Stalemate

  • Addis Ababa Agreement
  • Establishment of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region with various defined powers
Belligerents
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
(until 1956)
SudanRepublic of the Sudan
(until 1969)
SudanSudanDemocratic Republic of the Sudan
(from 1969)
Combat support:
 Uganda
(Joint operations on Ugandan territory, 1965–69)
LibyaLibya
(Combat involvement at least in 1970)
Non-combat support:
 United Arab Republic
 Soviet Union
SDF mutineers, bandits, and unaffiliated separatist militias
ALF(1965-1970)
Anyanya(from 1963)
 Israel(from 1969)
Supported by:
 Ethiopia
 Uganda(from about 1970)
Democratic Republic of the CongoCongo-Léopoldville
 Kenya
Commanders and leaders
Alexander Knox Helm
SudanIsmail al-Azhari
SudanGaafar Nimeiry
Joseph Lagu
Gordon Muortat Mayen
IsraelDavid Ben-Uziel
Strength
Sudanese Armed Forces:
6,000–7,000 (1955)
36,000 (late 1971)
Anyanya:
6,000–12,000
c.18,000 (late 1960s)
Casualties and losses
500,000–1 million killed