The
First Sudanese Civil War (also known as the
Anyanya Rebellion or
Anyanya I, after the name of the rebels, a term in the
Madi language which means 'snake venom') was a conflict from 1955 to 1972 between the northern part of
Sudan and the
southern Sudan region that demanded representation and more regional autonomy. Half a million people died over the 17 years of war, which may be divided into three stages: initial guerrilla war,
Anyanya, and
South Sudan Liberation Movement.