Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior
Rebecca Nyandeng | |
|---|---|
 Nyandeng in 2006 | |
| Fourth Vice President of South Sudan | |
| Assumed office 21 February 2020[1] | |
| President | Salva Kiir Mayardit |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Advisor for the President of South Sudan | |
| In office 2011–2013 | |
| Minister of Roads and Transport of Southern Sudan[2] | |
| In office 2005–2007 | |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| First Lady of Southern Sudan | |
| In office 9 July 2005 – 30 July 2005 | |
| President | John Garang |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by |
|
| Second Lady of Sudan | |
| In office 9 January 2005 – 30 July 2005 | |
| Vice President | John Garang |
| Succeeded by |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 July 1956 Bor, Republic of Sudan[2] |
| Nationality | South Sudanese |
| Spouse | John Garang |
| Children | 6, including Mabior Garang De-Mabior and Akuol de Mabior |
Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior (born 15 July 1956)[2] is a South Sudanese politician who currently serves as one of the vice presidents of South Sudan.[1][3][4] She is also the head of the Gender and Youth Cluster.[5]
She served as the Minister of Roads and Transport for the autonomous government of Southern Sudan,[6] and as an advisor for the President of South Sudan on gender and human rights from 2007 to 2014.[2] She is the widow of John Garang, who was the First Vice President of Sudan and the first President of Southern Sudan Autonomous Region, and the mother of Akuol de Mabior.[7][8][9]
Early life
She is from the Dinka tribe of Twic East County of South Sudan, and was born on 15 July 1956 in Bor. In 1986 she travelled to Cuba for military training.[2]
Role in the Government of South Sudan
After the death of John Garang, General Salva Kiir Mayardit took over his positions and became the First Vice President of Sudan and later President of South Sudan. Kiir appointed Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior as the Minister of Roads and Transport of South Sudan.
She continued to be a strong advocate for the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed by John Garang before his death on 30 July 2005. She continued to support the implementation of the peace process until South Sudan attained independence on 9 July 2011. In 2005 she visited the United States and met with President George W. Bush. She offered a message of appreciation for the American involvement in the quest for peace in South Sudan. In 2009 President Obama continued the efforts with Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Rice to see that the peace agreement was implemented in Sudan.
Nyandeng also received an interview by NPR. She spoke of her commitment to the liberation of South Sudan and how she also respects the necessity of a united Sudan under the New Sudan Vision created by John Garang in 1983. She visited Grinnell College and Iowa State University, the Iowa universities where her late husband completed his education before the Second Sudanese Civil War broke out in 1983.[10]
According to the Sudan Tribune, Nyandeng met with Salva Kiir on 22 December 2013 to discuss security in the wake of the 2013 South Sudanese political crisis.[11]
In 2024, Nyandeng, acknowledged the government's failure to provide essential services to its citizens and support the veterans of the liberation struggle.
"This one is going to our President Salva Kiir. We should support our veterans when they are still alive so that they can take care of their families"
— VP Nyandeng
She expressed doubts about the re-election of many leaders, including herself, due to their failure to meet the people’s expectations. Nyandeng also called upon the spirits of fallen martyrs to help bring peace back to the country.[12]
Comprehensive Peace Agreement
Nyandeng has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the government of Sudan in Khartoum implements the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. During the years of war, she joined the southern army known today as the Sudan People's Liberation Army and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. She is known for her support of the right of self-determination for South Sudan although she has nothing against a united Sudan under a democratic rule of law. Millions of Southern Sudanese have been affected by the war between the North and South Sudan which has a long history from the time the British left Sudan in 1956. As a result of war over 2 million lives in South Sudan have been lost and four million South Sudanese are both internally displaced and externally living in other countries as refugees. After the arrival of peace in South Sudan, repatriation process has been made by the United Nations.[13]
Documentary
In 2022, her daughter Akoul produced a documentary called No Simple Way Home, on her family and the work to create a better South Sudan.[14][15][16]
References
- ^ a b "President Kiir appoint Machar FVP ahead of South Sudan new cabinet - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan". sudantribune.com. 17 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Biography of Mama Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior". www.presidency.gov.ss. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ CIA Handbook, South Sudan, retrieved 2024-07-07
- ^ "Salva Kiir appoints Machar as First Vice President". The East African. 5 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ Radio Tamazuj website, My husband died in vain, article dated February 5, 2023
- ^ Enenmoh, Ikechukwu. "The lady they call Madam". Iowa State Daily. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
- ^ Opiyo, Dave. "Rebecca Nyandeng: "Who killed my husband?". New Sudan Vision. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
- ^ http://www.twiceast.org Archived 2011-06-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Widow of former Sudanese vice president will speak at Iowa State - News Service - Iowa State University". www.news.iastate.edu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ "South Sudan leaders fail to strike deal as violence continues". Sudan Tribune. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ JUBA (25 August 2024). "VP Nyandeng admits leaders have failed the people". Radio Tamazuj. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "UN-assisted refugee repatriation in South Sudan tops 100,000 | UN News". news.un.org. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ IMDB website, No Simple Way Home
- ^ Generation Africa website, No Simple Way Home
- ^ Deutsche Welle website, No Simple Way Home, article dated October 18, 2023
