South Sudan: Historical Background By elohmeyer Jan 1, 1956 Independence from Britain Feb 28, 1972 Southern Sudan Autonomous Region Established May 16, 1983 SPLM/A founded Sep 8, 1983 Nimeiry announces Sharia law Jun 30, 1989 Military coup - Al-Bashir gains power Aug 30, 1999 Sudan becomes an oil exporter Jan 9, 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement Jul 9, 2011 South Sudan Independence Mar 1, 2012 Reported bombings of South Sudan oil wells