Sudan, Civil War and Terrorism, 1956-99 FROM THE PUBLISHER
Sudan, the largest country in Africa, became independent in 1956, to find it had a foot in both Arab Muslim and the Black African camps. Almost immediately a 16-year civil war began, ending with autonomy for the South, which devolved into chaos. A second southern revolution broke out in 1983 when the government introduced the Sharia law, which is still in progress, the impasse halted only by an uneasy cease-fire. Central governments have been mainly military dictatorships, plagued by plots, quarrels with adjacent countries, and involvement in international terrorism.
Author Biography: Edgar O'Ballance is author of The Congo-Zaire Experience and Civil War in Lebanon.
FROM THE CRITICS
Booknews
Having served in the British and Indian armies during World War II, O'Ballance has since covered over 20 wars and insurgencies as a wire agency and freelance journalist. Here he examines the conflicts that have wracked Africa's largest country since it gained independence from Britain. Most have been between the Moslem north and the Christian and pagan south, but he also describes the ebb and flow of coup, countercoup, and military dictatorship in the capital, Khartoum. The recent multi-party election bodes well, he says, but he worries that strong contenders for power are returning from exile. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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