Name of leader John Garang
Full Name John Garang de Mabior
Organization Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M)
Org. Transition South Sudan Army
Conflict country Sudan
Gender Male
Year of birth 1945[1]
Place of birth Wangkulei, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan [now in The Sudan][2]
Year of death 2005[3]
Deceased
Yes; in 2005, he died in a helicopter crash.
Birth order
He was the sixth eldest of ten children.[4]
Age at start of rebel leadership
In 1983, at the age of 38, SPLA “enthroned” Garang as its leader.[5]
Leader entry method
He founded SPLA.[6]
Powersharing
No, there is no evidence of powersharing.
Education (also name universities attended, if any); note any relevant experiences while a student
He has his Ph.D. in Economics from Iowa State University. He received his Masters degree in agriculture economics from Iowa State as well. He earned a BA in economics from Grinnell College in Iowa. He completed military training in Georgia. Secondary school at Magamba secondary school and a non-finished primary education at Rumbek Secondary School.[7]
Ever married? If yes, age of first marriage
Yes, he married at age 31.[8]
Children
Yes, he had seven children, although one died in infancy.[9]
Religious identification
He identified as Christian.[10]
Elite Family background
No; he was born to poor ethnic Dinka parents who died when he was only ten.[11]
Political affiliations and intellectual circles; note any relevant social connections made
Yes; he was part of the University Students’ African Revolutionary Front at UDSM (a university).[12]
Physical and mental health
No; there is no evidence of poor physical or mental health.
Pre-militant leader occupation
Military Career[13]
Experience in a state military, and role; any relevant social ties
Yes. “The civil war ended with the Addis Ababa agreement of 1972 and Garang, like many rebels, was absorbed into the Sudanese military. For eleven years, he was a career soldier and rose from the rank of captain to colonel after taking the Infantry Officers Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia.”[14]
Experience in a nonstate military, and role; any relevant social ties
Yes. “In 1960 he was accepted in Rumbek Senior Secondary School, from where he was recruited (with many of his colleagues) into the Anyanya I Rebel Army…. In 1968 he rejoined the Anyanya Army fighting for the Independence of Southern Sudan.”[15]
Combat experience prior to assuming resistance organization leadership?
Yes, as noted in the section above.
Held government position prior to assuming leadership?
No, there is no evidence he held a government position.
Lived in exile?
No, there is no evidence he lived in exile.
Study abroad?
Yes, he studied in Tanzania and the United States, possibly Uganda, although it is unclear if he actually studied while he was there.[16]
Did the leader receive military training abroad?
Yes, “in 1972 when the Addis Ababa Agreement was signed between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Anyanya, Dr. Johnhad attained the rank of Captain the Sudanese army and he was sent to Fort Benning in Georgia, USA, where he received a Masters in Military Science.”[17]
Did the leader have extensive work experience abroad?
No, there is no evidence he had extensive work experience abroad.
Serve time in prison? Social connections during that time?
No, there is no evidence he served time in prison.
Was there an assassination attempt on the leader by the state?
No, there is no evidence of an assassination attempt by the state.
Cause of Death?
“On July 30, 2005, John Garang was returning on a Ugandan Mi-172 helicopter, from a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, when the aircraft crashed, killing the Sudanese politician.”[18] Although it appeared to be an accident, some believe there was foul play.[19]
Primary language, and other languages spoken as adult
He spoke Dinka, Arabic, and English.
Image Credit: https://sudansouthsudan.com/2013/12/29/important-words-by-dr-john-garang-about-peace/
[1] “John Garang,” Encyclopaedia Britannica, December 31, 2005, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Garang-de-Mabior.
[2] “John Garang,” Encyclopaedia Britannica, December 31, 2005, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Garang-de-Mabior.
[3] “John Garang,” Encyclopaedia Britannica, December 31, 2005, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Garang-de-Mabior.
[4] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[5] Julie Flint, “John Garang,” the guardian, August 3, 2005, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/aug/03/guardianobituaries.sudan.
[6] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[7] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[8] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[9] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[10] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[11] “John Garang Biography,” The Famous People, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/john-garang-5959.php.
[12] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[13] “John Garang Biography,” The Famous People, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/john-garang-5959.php.
[14] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[15] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[16] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[17] “Biographies of the Late Dr. John Garang de-Mabior,” Paanluel, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://paanluelwel.com/2011/08/08/biography-of-the-late-dr-john-garang-de-mabior/.
[18] “John Garang Biography,” The Famous People, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/john-garang-5959.php.
[19] “John Garang Biography,” The Famous People, Accessed September 13, 2017, https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/john-garang-5959.php.