The death of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Chairman, President of the Government of Southern Sudan and Sudanese First Vice President John Garang on July 30, 2005, sent shockwaves throughout Sudan and the international community. Riots that occurred immediately following his death raised fears that the peace process would collapse, but the SPLM successfully stabilized the situation by reinforcing its commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which had been signed just seven months earlier.