In 1956, when Ethiopia was under the rule of Haile Selassie, Sudan achieved independence from British colonial rule. However, peace was not achieved, since the Government of Sudan supported the armed groups, the Eritrean Liberation Front and Eritrean People's Liberation Front, along the Ethiopia–Sudan border that fought against Haile Selassie's government. Following this, the Imperial government of Ethiopia felt obligated to support the rebel movement in South Sudan known as "Anya Nya". This caused the first civil war which took place between 1955 and 1972.