Ethnic groups and the emergence of South Sudan : a study in socio-political geography

Abstract EN

The issue of southern Sudan is an old issue dating back to the late nineteenth century, during the bilateral (Egyptian - British) rule.

At that time, the policy of the government in Khartoum, which was controlled by Britain, towards the south of Sudan, was based on two pillars: the weakening of the northern presence in the south, and the weakening of Arabic culture, whether by substituting Arabic by English or by encouraging the spread of local dialects and converting them to written languages.

Several related events occurred in the twentieth century including many conferences that unanimously recommended the right of southerners to secede.

Then there was the Naivasha agreement in 2005, which gave the people of southern Sudan the right for self-determination.

The researcher wanted to concentrate on these issues hoping to understand the geographical background associated with religion and ethnic groups of southern Sudan.

The idea of separation by the great powers was mainly inspired by this background.

In addition to a geographical background about the study area, this research con-sists of the following five chapters: First: the issue of separation of the south ...

origin and evolution.

Second: the use of ethnic minorities as a basis for the division of Sudan.

In this regard, the study will identify the ethnic composition of the population of the south.

Third: the issue of Christianization in southern Sudan which will show that the missionaries aimed to concentrate on the whole of Sudan.

Fourth: the Abyei crisis and its evolution including a map of the Abyei oil-rich area, and its tribal presence.

Also, this chapter addresses the correct solution of the problem of Abyei.

Fifth: the reality and the future of the Republic of South Sudan.

As a conclusion, this study emphasizes that the good hopes for the emergence of this new republic have collapsed, and that the separation of southern Sudan may not be the end.