Civil war had raged between the northern and southern halves of the country for more than 19 years between the northern Arab tribes and southern African tribes, but the war soon effectively developed into a struggle between the Sudan People's Liberation Army and al-Bashir's government.
Vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe vilikuwa vimepamba moto kati ya nusu ya kaskazini na kusini mwa nchi kwa zaidi ya miaka 19 kati ya makabila ya Waarabu wa kaskazini na makabila ya kusini mwa Afrika, lakini vita hivi karibuni vilikua ni mapambano kati ya Jeshi la Ukombozi la Watu wa Sudan na serikali ya al-Bashir.