Present-day Sudan is largely part of Egypt since 1900 BC. In the eight century BC the State of Meroë in Nubia is founded. Since the sixth century several christian states are formed in Nubia. In the eighth century the Caliphate conquers Nubia. Gradually the whole of what is nowadays Northern Sudan is conquered by Arab nations. The southern Nubian states remains independent. Arab rule develops into the formation of the sultanates of Sennar and Darfur in the fifteenth century. These sultanates destroy the Nubian states.

In 1821 Egypt occupies and annexes the region under the name of Sudan. In 1881, a religious leader named Muhammad ibn Abdalla proclaims himself the Mahdi, or the “expected one,” and begins a religious crusade to unify the tribes in western and central Sudan. His followers took on the name “Ansars” (the followers), which they continue to use today; they are associated with the single largest political grouping, the Umma Party, led by the descendant of the Mahdi, Sadiq al-Mahdi. Taking advantage of conditions resulting from Ottoman-Egyptian exploitation and maladministration, the Mahdi lead a nationalist revolt culminating in the fall of Khartoum in 1885. The Mahdi dies shortly thereafter, but his state survives until overwhelmed by an Ango-Egyptian force under Lord Kitchener in 1898. Sudan is proclaimed a condominium as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1899 under British-Egyptian administration.

In 1917 the Sultanate of Darfur is defeated and incorporated into Sudan. Since 1948 Sudan has linited self-government. In 1953 Britain and Egypt conclude an agreement providing for Sudanese self-government and self-determination. The transitional period toward independence begins with the inauguration of the first parliament in 1954. Sayid Abdel Rahman al-Mahdi of the Umma Party (1952-1953) and Ismail al-Azhari of the NUP (1953-1956) become chief ministers. Sudan achieves independence in 1956 as the Republic of the Sudan. However, the Arab-led Khartoum government reneges on promises to southerners to create a federal system, which lead to a mutiny by southern army officers that sparks 17 years of civil war (1955-72).

The National Unionist Party (NUP), under prime minister Ismail al-Azhari, dominates the first cabinet, which is soon replaced by a coalition of conservative political forces. In 1958 Ibrahim Abboud overthrows the parliamentary regime in a bloodless military coup. Democracy is restored in 1964. It brings Ismail al-Azhari of the NUP to the presidency. A After a provisional government the parliamentary elections in 1965 lead to a coalition government of the Umma and National Unionist Parties under prime minister Muhammad Ahmad Mahjoub of the Umma Party, succeeded in 1966 by Sadiq al-Mahdi. Maghoub resumes office in 1967.

Dissatisfaction culminate in a military coup in 1969. The coup leader, Gaafar Muhammad Nimeiri, becomes prime minister and the new regime abolishes parliament and outlaws all political parties. The introduction of shari’a (islamic law) leads in part together with other longstanding grievances in 1983 to a resumption of the civil war, this war continues today. The southerners are represented by the SPLA, lead by John Garang de Mabior.

After massive demonstrations the army under Suwar al-Dahab mount a coup. This leads to an interim civilian cabinet, headed by Al Gizouli Defalla. After elections in 1986 a government is formed by Sadiq al-Mahdi of the Umma Party, consisting of a coalition of the Umma, DUP, the National Islamic Front (Hassan al-Turabi’s NIF) and several southern parties. This coalition dissolves and reforms several times over the next few years, with Sadiq al-Mahdi and his Umma party always in a central role. In 1989 the army presented Sadiq with an ultimatum: he can move toward peace or be thrown out. He forms a new government with the DUP and approves an peace agreement.

However, Military officers under Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, with NIF instigation and support, replace the government with the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC). Al-Bashir becomes president. In 1995, a coalition of internal and exiled opposition parties in the north and the south create the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as an anti-government umbrella group. The RCC is abolished in 1996 and the ruling National Islamic Front changed its name to the National Congress Party. In 1999 the leader of the former NIF, al-Turabi is stripped of his posts in the ruling party and the government, parliament was disbanded, the constitution was suspended and a state of national emergency is declared by presidential decree. Parliament resumes in 2001 after the 2000 presidential and parliamentary elections.