Riek Gai Kok
Riek Gai Kok is a South Sudanese politician. He is a Lou Nuer, hailing from Chieng Man-nyang/Diang-nyang Akoba.[1][2] A veteran politician, he has been a member of parliament in both Sudan and South Sudan.[3] As of 2013, he served as Minister of Health of South Sudan.[3]
1990s
[edit]As of the early 1990s, Riek Gai Kok served as head of the Relief Association of Southern Sudan, the humanitarian aid wing of the SPLA-Nasir.[4][5] As of 1997-1998 he served as spokesperson of the South Sudan Independence Movement/Army (SSIM/A).[6] As the late 1990s he served as wali (governor) of Jonglei state.[6][7][8]
2000s
[edit]In 2002 he was named as chairman of the Southern States Coordination Council by president Omar al-Bashir.[9][10] As SSCC chairman, Riek Gai Kok was charged with administering the states of Southern Sudan.[11] The appointment followed the defection of Riek Machar to the rebel side.[12] As of 2002, Riek Gai Kok was also serving as Minister of Animal Resources in the Sudanese government.[13] At the time Riek Gai Kok was a leader of the South Sudan Defence Forces. Towards the end of the Second Sudanese Civil War he and a group of his followers broke with the SSDF leader Gordon Kong.[1]
Riek Gai Kok was also a high-ranking member of the National Congress Party.[2][14] He was the chairman of the Southern Sector of the NCP.[15] He also served as advisor to the Sudanese president.[16] On July 7, 2011, two days before the independence of South Sudan, Riek Gai Kok and other Southern NCP leaders held a press conference and declared their entry into the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.[17]
Post-Independence
[edit]In August 2013 Riek Gai Kok was named Minister of Health in the government of South Sudan.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Small Arms Survey, Geneva. Small Arms Survey 2010 Gangs, Groups, and Guns. Cambridge Univ Pr, 2010. p. 288
- ^ a b Young, John. Sudan People's Liberation Army: Disarmament in Jonglei and Its Implications. Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies, 2007. p. 4
- ^ a b c Al-Ahram. Kiir’s delicate game
- ^ Rone, Jemera. Civilian Devastation: Abuses by All Parties in the War in Southern Sudan. New York: Human Rights Watch, 1994. p. 184
- ^ Human Rights Watch. Famine in Sudan, 1998: The Human Rights Causes. New York: Human Rights Watch, 1999. p. 80
- ^ a b IRIN. 'SUDAN: A future without War?' - IRIN In-Depth on the prospects of peace in Sudan - Who is who
- ^ Sudan Update, Vol. 9–10. Committee for Peace and Reconstruction in Sudan, 1998. p. 53
- ^ Sudan Focus, Vol. 4–6. Focus International, 1997. p. 118
- ^ Rone, Jemera. Sudan, Oil and Human Rights. 2003. p. 338
- ^ Horn of Africa Bulletin, Vol. 15. Life & Peace Institute, 2003. p. 34
- ^ I.O.N., Eds. 1024–1069. Indian Ocean Information and Documentation Bank, 2003. p. 70
- ^ Press Digest, Vol. 10, Eds. 1–26. Anasir Publishers, 2003. p. 35
- ^ Marchés tropicaux et méditerranéens, Eds. 2956–2970. 2002. p. 1862
- ^ Otayek, René, and Benjamin F. Soares. Islam, état et société en Afrique. Paris: Karthala, 2009. p. 398
- ^ IGIHE. South Sudan’s Kiir names new Cabinet
- ^ Sudan News Agency. Dr. Riek Gai Lauds Role of President Al-Bashir in Implementation of Comprehensive Peace Agreement
- ^ SudanTribune. NCP South Sudan office closes down as officials join SPLM