This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Sudan
The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and its political wing, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) – known collectively as Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) – is a Sudanese rebel movement turned political party. Based in Southern Sudan, SPLA/M fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese government from 1983 to 2005. In 1989 it joined the main opposition group in Sudan, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which in January 2005 signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government. SPLA/M has since had representatives in the Government of Sudan, as well as being the main constituent of the Government of the semi-autonomous Southern Sudan. It was led by John Garang until his death on 30 July 2005.
The SPLA/M is largely Southern Sudan-based, non-Arabic and secular, in contrast to the predominantly Muslim and Arab north. As a rebel group it was formed in 1983 by rebellious south sudanese soldiers of the Sudanese Army based in Bor, Pochalla and Ayod (Bor Mutiny).These joined remnants of the Anyanya rebels of the First Sudanese Civil War based in Ethiopia. It was founded by Colonel Dr John Garang, Captain Salva Kiir Mayardit,Major William Nyuon Bany and Major Kerubino Kuanyin Bol. It fought against the governments of Gaafar Nimeiry, Sadiq al-Mahdi and Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir in what is now called the Second Sudanese Civil War. SPLA/M's declared aim was to establish a democratic Sudan with it as the leading party in control of the southern areas. The war has been largely described in religious and ethnic terms, and also as a struggle for control of the water and oil resources located in the southern and the western Sudan.
In the early 1991, the SPLA-Nasir faction led by DrRiek Machar and Dr Lam Akol attempted to overthrow chairman Garang. The attempt failed but led to widespread fighting in the south and the formation of other rebel groups, such as Carabino Kuany Bol's SPLA Bahr-al-Ghazal faction. These internal divisions hampered negotiations with the government. SPLA-Nasir, renamed itself SPLA-United and then transformed itself, with substantial personnel changes, into the South Sudan Independence Movement/Army. Several smaller factions signed a separate peace agreement with Khartoum in April 1997 and formed the United Democratic Salvation Front (UDSF).
The Sudanese government accused Uganda and Eritrea of supporting the SPLA/M. The group is alleged to have operated on the Ugandan side of the Sudanese border with Uganda at the southern limit of Sudan.
In 2005, a treaty between the SPLA/M and the Sudanese government led to the formal recognition of Southern Sudanese autonomy. The political wing, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (Al-Harakat Ash-Shaabia Le Tahreer As-Sudan) is now political party.

President

• Omar al-Bashir
  Vice-President
  
  
  
  • Salva Kiir Mayardit
    Ali Osman Taha
    National Legislature
    
    
    
    • Council of States
      National Assembly
      Political parties
      Elections: 2009
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      Foreign aid Human rights abuses
      In 1996 the US sent nearly $20 million worth of military equipment through Ethiopia, Eritrea and Uganda to help the Sudanese opposition to overthrow Bashir (president of Sudan). US officials denied that the aid was destined for the SPLA, but there were reports elsewhere that elite US forces were working with the Sudanese rebel army.