| Timeline | |
| 1882: | British invade Sudan |
| 1899-1955: | Sudan governed as Anglo-Egyptian condominium |
| 1922-1947: | British adopt a separate system of administration for the south that cuts ties between north and south |
| 1955: | Beginning of first civil war between north and south |
| 1956: | Sudan becomes independent |
| 1955-1972: | First civil war between north and south |
| 1969: | Military coup led by Colonel Gaafar Muhammad Nimeiri |
| 1972: | President Nimeiri signs the Addis Ababa agreement, bringing to an end the first civil war |
| 1978: | Oil discovered in Bentiu in southern Sudan |
| 1983: | President Nimeiri declares the introduction of sharia law throughout the whole of Sudan |
| Outbreak of second civil war between north and south | |
| 1989: | Military coup led by General Omar Hassan A. Al-Basheer |
| 1983-2005: | Second civil war between north and south |
| 1991: | (May) Overthrow of SPLM’s main supporter, President Mengistu Haile Miriam of Ethiopia |
| Exodus from Ethiopia of southern Sudanese refugees from refugee camps in Ethiopia | |
| Rebellion against SPLM/SPLA leader, John Garang, led by Riek Machar. Formation by Machar of splinter group: SPLM/A-Nasir. Ongoing conflict within the SPLM/SPLA and attacks on civilians by both factions | |
| 1993: | General Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir appointed President of Sudan |
| 2005: | January: Government and southern rebels sign the Comprehenive Peace Agreement, bringing the second civil war to an end |
| July: John Garang sworn in as first Vice-President of Sudan | |
| August: John Garang killed in helicopter crash. | |
| Salva Kiir takes over as first Vice-President of Sudan and leader of the SPLM | |
| 2011: | January: Southern Sudanese vote for independence in referendum |
| 9 July: South Sudan becomes independent with Salva Kiir as President and Riek Machar as first Vice-President | |
| 2013: | President Kiir sacks Riek Machar as Vice-President. |
| December: Fighting breaks out between rival SPLA units in Juba | |
| 2013-2015: | South Sudan internal civil war |
| 2016: | April: Riek Machar returns to Juba and is sworn in again as Vice-President |
| July: Renewed fighting between Kiir and Machar factions. Machar goes into exile | |
| 2016-present: | South Sudan civil war continues |