30/07/2025
Dr. John Garang E Mabior Biography
Dr. John Garang de Mabior (1945-2005) was a prominent Sudanese politician and military officer who played a key role in the Sudanese civil wars and the eventual creation of South Sudan as an independent nation. Here is a brief biography:
Early Life:
• John Garang was born on June 23, 1945, in Wangulei village in the Twic District [Book Title: Reports on the Finance, Administration, and Condition of the Sudan, Volume 2 By Sudan, 1911] of Sudan Upper Nile region, which is now part of South Sudan.
• He belonged to the Dinka Twi ethnic group, one of the largest ethnic groups in South Sudan.
Education and Military Career:
• Garang received his early education in Sudan before joining the Sudanese military.
• He was sent to the United States for further education and obtained a Bachelor's degree from Grinnell College in Iowa and later a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Iowa State University.
Involvement in Civil Wars:
• Dr. John Garang became a military officer and played a significant role in the First Sudanese Civil War (1955-1972) between the Sudanese government and various rebel groups.
• After the Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972, which granted autonomy to the southern region of Sudan, Garang joined the Sudanese military.
Formation of the SPLA/M:
• Discontent with the implementation of the Addis Ababa Agreement and other issues led Garang to form the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in 1983.
• The SPLM/A aimed to address political and economic marginalization and sought greater autonomy for the southern region, which predominantly consisted of non-Arab ethnic groups, including the Dinka.
Second Sudanese Civil War:
• The formation of the SPLM/A marked the beginning of the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005), a conflict between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/A.
• Garang led the SPLM/A in a protracted struggle against the Sudanese government, advocating for the rights of marginalized grou
