1972

SSU established as the only legal party in the Sudan ( Jan). Negotiations between government & SSLM in Addis Ababa (16-27 Feb) lead to peace agreement; Addis Ababa Agreement ratified in Khartoum by Nimairi & Lagu (2 March) and embodied in the Regional Self-Government Act (3 March); Southern Region established under an interim government led by former Minister of Southern Affairs, and leader of the government negotiating team, Abel Alier. Diplomatic relations with the US resume. Constituent Assembly elected (Oct).

1973

Sudan government and Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development begin a twenty-five-year Basic Programme for Agricultural Development in the Sudan. Permanent Constitution, incorporating the Addis Ababa Agreement, approved by Nimairi (8 May). First elections to the Southern Regional Assembly (Oct); SSU nominates Abel Alier as its official candidate for President of the HEC, forestalling the nomination of other candidates.

1974

Plan for economic & political integration with Egypt signed (12 Feb). Plans for the Jonglei Canal announced; HEC agrees ‘not to oppose’ them; public demonstrations against the plans in Juba end in shooting of demonstrators, and the arrest or flight of Regional Assemblymen opposed to the canal (April). General election to the People's Assembly in Khartoum (May). Ex-Anyanya battalion in Juba refuse to move into new barracks and beat their commander, Peter Cyrillo.

1975

Mutiny of ex-Anyanya troops in Akobo; mutineers kill Southern commander and flee to Ethiopia; become nucleus of a revived Anyanya, eventually known as Anyanya-2 (March). Attempted coup against Nimairi by Islamist officers in the army (5 Sept).

1976

Mutiny of ex-Anyanya in Wau, killing senior ex-Anyanya officers in the army (Feb). Sadiq al-Mahdi's Libyan-backed coup fails after fighting in the streets of Khartoum, in which Southern troops play a prominent role in crushing the coup (2 July); defence agreement between Egypt and Sudan (July).

1977

Mutiny of ex-Anyanya in Juba, with failed attempt to take airport (6 Feb). National Reconciliation between Nimairi, Sadiq al-Mahdi, Hassan al-Turabi, and other exiled opposition politicians (July); Bona Malwal resigns as Minister of Information in central government in protest. Elections in Southern Region (Dec–Feb).

1978

Nimairi requests Alier not to stand for re-election and Lagu is elected President of the HEC (Feb).