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Sudan, the largest country in Africa, became independent in 1956, to find it had a foot in both Arab Muslim and the Black African camps. Almost immediately a 16-year civil war began, ending with autonomy for the South, which devolved into chaos. A second southern revolution broke out in 1983 when the government introduced the Sharia law, which is still in progress, the impasse halted only by an uneasy cease-fire. Central governments have been mainly military dictatorships, plagued by plots, quarrels with adjacent countries, and involvement in international terrorism. Sudan, the largest country in Africa, became independent in 1956, to find it had a foot in both Arab Muslim and the Black African camps. Almost immediately a 16-year civil war began, ending with autonomy for the South, which devolved into chaos. A second southern revolution broke out in 1983 when the government introduced the Sharia law, which is still in progress, the impasse halted only by an uneasy cease-fire. Central governments have been mainly military dictatorships, plagued by plots, quarrels with adjacent countries, and involvement in international terrorism.