Begining & The End : How The African Civil Wars Started

The Fight that lead to the death of millions of Africans.

Sudan Civil War 🇸🇩:

Background: Modern Sudan was formed on January 1, 1956. Before that, Britain and Egypt combined Northern and Southern Sudan in 1946 without consulting the South.

Differences: The North and South had different cultures and religions and were previously governed separately. In 1953, Britain and Egypt decided to grant Sudan independence without considering these differences.

War: Civil war began in August 1955, four months before independence, with Southern soldiers fighting for regional autonomy against the central government in Khartoum. The war lasted over 16 years, killing more than 2 million people.

Nigeria Civil War 🇳🇬:

Independence: Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Seven years later, the civil war (Biafra War) began, lasting from July 6, 1967, to January 15, 1970.

Differences: The regions had different cultures and religions and were previously ruled by their monarchs. Despite this, Britain granted Nigeria independence in 1960.

Causes: Immediate causes included the January 15, 1966 coup, the July 28, 1966 counter-coup, and mass murders of Easterners (mainly Igbos) in Northern Nigeria.

Conflict: After rejecting the Aburi Accord (Confederation), the Republic of Benin was briefly established in Mid-Western Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Eastern Region's leader, Gen Ojukwu, declared the Republic of Biafra, leading to war with Nigeria and Britain. Over 2.5 million people died.

Uganda Civil Wars 🇺🇬:

Background: Uganda became a British protectorate in 1894. The British made an agreement with Buganda, turning it into a constitutional monarchy.

Conflict: Buganda, the largest kingdom in Uganda, saw its monarchy abolished in 1967, leading to coups and wars from 1971 to 1986. Under the current government, Uganda has been relatively peaceful, though ongoing conflict with the Lord's Resistance Army continues. About 500,000 people have died.

Rwanda Civil War 🇷🇼:

Independence: Rwanda gained independence from Belgium on July 1, 1962. A referendum decided against keeping the Tutsi monarchy.

Conflict: The 1959 Rwanda Revolution led to the majority Hutu taking control, causing thousands of Tutsis to flee. On October 1, 1990, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) attacked Rwanda, leading to a temporary end in 1993. In 1994, the war restarted after the plane carrying the Presidents of Burundi and Rwanda was shot down, leading to the Tutsi genocide. Over 1.5 million people died.

Liberia Civil Wars 🇱🇷:

Background: Liberia had been a republic for over 100 years when a coup happened in 1980, destabilizing the country.

Conflict: The civil war started in 1989 and ended in 2003, resulting in over 250,000 deaths.

Mozambique Civil War 🇲🇿:

Independence: Mozambique gained independence in 1975 after a war with Portugal that lasted from September 25, 1964, to September 8, 1974.

Conflict: Two years after independence, a civil war began between the government and RENAMO. The war ended in 1992, but RENAMO militancy resumed in 2013. Over 1 million people died during the war.

South Sudan Civil War 🇸🇸:

Conflict: In 2013, fighting broke out between the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO). Peace talks have broken down twice, and the UN warns of a potential repeat of Rwanda’s genocide. Over 400,000 people have died.