Honorable Deng Dau Deng was appointed acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in April 2023. He had served as Deputy Minister in the same Ministry since 2018.

Born in 1963, Hon. Deng is a veteran of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLM/SPLA), which waged a war against successive government’s in Khartoum from 1983 to 2005.

The SPLM/SPLA spear-headed the independence of South Sudan from Sudan on 9 July 2011.

Hon. Deng, who hails from Twic East in Jonglei, the largest state in South Sudan, is also a sitting member of the Transitional Legislative Assembly, representing his people in the national parliament.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and political science from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi.

Hon. Deng is also a professional soldier who served in the SPLA’s Tiger Division during the war after being commission as an officer.

In addition to his military skills, Hon. Deng established his credentials as a humanitarian when he was appointed as Chairperson of the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya and member of the Itang Refugee Administration in Ethiopia.

In this capacity, he spear-headed the establishment of schools, vocational centers, health facilities, as well as other basic services for South Sudanese refugees in these settlements. He was also responsible for unaccompanied minors in the camps.

After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, Hon. Deng became the Chairperson of the Commission for War Disabled, Widows and Orphans (CWDWO).

During his tenure as Chairperson of the Commission, he initiated a number of policies to empower the war wounded and families of martyrs.

These policies led to, amongst others, the construction of low-cost housing units for them, as well as provision of educational services, agricultural inputs, sewing machines and tricycles for the war-wounded.

Hon. Deng’s political career also spans several years.

In addition to his current ministerial portfolio, Hon. Deng is also an active member of the TNLA, where he serves as Chairperson of the Jonglei State Caucus, as well as member of the SPLM’s National Liberation Council (NLC).

He has also provided critical leadership on a number of national issues and participated in many regional and international conferences, which helped deepen his understanding about global issues and prepared him for his current portfolio.