Juba Conference (1947)

The Juba Conference, held in June 1947 in Juba, Southern Sudan, was a pivotal event in the lead-up to Sudan's independence. It was convened by the British colonial administration to address the concerns of the Southern Sudanese regarding their future within a unified Sudan, which was then nearing independence.

At the time, Sudan was governed as two distinct regions: the largely Arab and Muslim north, and the more diverse south, with animist and Christian populations. The Southern Sudanese representatives were deeply concerned about being marginalized and potentially dominated by the north after independence. They feared the imposition of Sharia law, the loss of their cultural identity, and limited access to resources and political power.

The Juba Conference brought together representatives from both the north and south, as well as British officials. The Southern Sudanese delegation, though limited in resources and experience compared to their northern counterparts, voiced their fears and demands for guarantees of their rights and representation.

The outcome of the conference was largely unfavorable to the Southern Sudanese. While some concessions were made in principle, concrete safeguards for Southern interests were not established. The north dominated the proceedings, and the conference concluded without a firm agreement on the future relationship between the north and south. This failure to address Southern concerns laid the groundwork for the prolonged civil wars that plagued Sudan for decades after independence in 1956. The Juba Conference is therefore remembered as a missed opportunity to establish a more equitable and peaceful foundation for a unified Sudan.