After years of civil war , the majority Christian South of Sudan chose to secede . The new country was called Northern Bahr el Ghazal ( or North - Western ) and it became a part of Uganda in 1975. Diktats on Islamic dress have loosened -- but there is the occasional street sweep . It was a public order court that sentenced Meriam Yahya Ibrahim to death for apostasy , for her refusal to renounce Christianity , a move that has left many of my Sudanese friends and family shocked . The death sentence for apostasy has left many Sudanese shocked .
After years of civil war , the majority Christian South of Sudan chose to secede . The new country was called Northern Bahr el Ghazal ( or North - Western ) and it became a part of Uganda in 1975. Diktats on Islamic dress have loosened -- but there is the occasional street sweep . The death sentence for apostasy has left many Sudanese shocked .