The Military takes over Power & "Anyanya" is Formed
In
order to avert the crisis, Prime Minister Khalil privately asked his
old friend, Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Abboud, to take over power but only
temporarily. Abboud agreed and staged a military coup in November 1958.
He also dissolved Parliament, banned political parties, and imposed
many of the restrictions usually associated with a state of emergency.
He tightened his grip on power and had no intention of giving it up.
Indeed, with the passage of time, he became almost a dictator. Lt-Gen.
Abboud travelled widely throughout the world, and managed to secure
massive foreign aid from both the West and East, and financed viable
projects - notably for irrigation.
But Abboud did more harm to the southerners than any other Sudanese
ruler ever. He planned to Arabinize the south through sheer force. In
1962, he decreed that:
1) All southerners should drop their Christian names and adopt Arab ones instead
2) Arabic should be the official language throughout Sudan;
3) All Christian missionaries should leave the south;
4) The Koran (the holy book of Islam) should be taught to the southerners as well.
The southerners said "No" to the decrees of Abboud, and in 1963 they formed the Anyanya (snake venom)-a guerrilla organisation-and resolved to fight for their independence and dignity. They then unleashed a guerilla war against the government. Thousands of southerners fearful of government reprisal, fled Sudan and became refugees in the neighbouring countries -Uganda, Zaire, Ethiopia, Central Africa, and Kenya. Abboud never managed to Arabinize the south.
The southerners said "No" to the decrees of Abboud, and in 1963 they formed the Anyanya (snake venom)-a guerrilla organisation-and resolved to fight for their independence and dignity. They then unleashed a guerilla war against the government. Thousands of southerners fearful of government reprisal, fled Sudan and became refugees in the neighbouring countries -Uganda, Zaire, Ethiopia, Central Africa, and Kenya. Abboud never managed to Arabinize the south.
National Movements and New States in Africa