Definition:
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Islamist government of President Omar al-Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir and John Garang's Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) was signed on 9 January 2005. The CPA formally recognized the autonomy of southern Sudan and offered the prospect of a referendum on independence. In addition members of the SPLM were given governmental positions and John Garang was made vice president (as well as being president of the autonomous southern nation). John Garang, however, died in a suspicious helicopter crash on 30 July 2005 returning from Uganda. Leadership of the SPLM passed to Salva Kiir Mayardit, who became president of Southern Sudan, and vice president of Sudan.
