An Irish nationalist has made history in Northern Ireland, becoming the region's first minister as the government resumes its work after a two-year boycott by unionists. Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O'Neill has been nominated as the first minister in the power-sharing government established under the 1998 Good Friday peace accord. This agreement aims to share power between Northern Ireland's two major communities - British unionists who wish to remain part of the United Kingdom and Irish nationalists who advocate for a united Ireland.
Northern Ireland, historically a unionist, Protestant-majority part of the UK since 1921, has long been plagued by sectarian tensions. The Good Friday Agreement brought an end to about three decades of violent conflict, known as the Troubles, by establishing a political framework for peace. Importantly, it ensured that both sides of the community have to reach an agreement for the government to function.
