[1] It was established on 28 February 1972 by the Addis Ababa Agreement which ended the First Sudanese Civil War.

[2] The region was abolished on 5 June 1983 by the administration of Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiry.

The autonomous region consisted of the three provinces of Equatoria, Bahr al-Ghazal, and Greater Upper Nile.

Following the signing of the Khartoum Peace Agreement of 1997, a Southern Sudan Coordination Council was established initially led by Riek Machar who was also appointed Assistant to the President of the Republic.

[4] This body was abolished in 2005 when the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was established.