| Conventional Long Name: | Southern Sudan Autonomous Region |
| Subdivision: | Autonomous region |
| Nation: | Sudan |
| Government Type: | Autonomous region |
| Year Start: | 1972 |
| Date Start: | 28 February |
| Event End: | Autonomy abolished |
| Year End: | 1983 |
| Date End: | 5 June |
| P1: | Democratic Republic of Sudan |
| Flag P1: | Flag of Sudan.svg |
| S1: | Democratic Republic of Sudan |
| Flag S1: | Flag of Sudan.svg |
| Image Map Caption: | Map showing Southern Sudan (red) within Sudan (darker brown). |
| Capital: | Juba |
| Title Leader: | President of the High Executive Council |
| Year Leader1: | 1972 - 1978 (first) |
| Year Leader2: | 1982 - 1983 (last) |
| Legislature: | People's Regional Assembly |
| Stat Year1: | 1983 |
| Stat Area1: | 619,745 |
| Stat Pop1: | 5,466,700 |
The Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was an autonomous region that existed in southern Sudan between 1972 and 1983.[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.[3] Revocation of southern autonomy was one of the causes of the Second Sudanese Civil War which would continue until January 2005, when southern autonomy was restored; the region became the independent Republic of South Sudan in 2011.
Southern Sudan was governed by a High Executive Council which was led by a President of the High Executive Council. Abel Alier was the first President, holding that post between 1972 and 1978.Legislative authority was vested in a People's Regional Assembly.
The autonomous region consisted of the three provinces of Equatoria, Bahr al-Ghazal, and Greater Upper Nile. Juba was the regional capital.
The Southern Sudan Autonomous Region was abolished in 1983. Between 1987 and 1989 a Council for the South existed in Southern Sudan. 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.[5]