Dominic Dim Deng

Dominic Dim Deng
Personal details
Born	1 March 1950 Bahr al-Ghazal, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (now Southern Sudan)
Died	2 May 2008
Political party	Sudan People's Liberation Movement

Dominic Dim Deng (born January 1950, died 2 May 2008) a popular Southern Sudan Defence Minister who lost his life alongside his wife Josephine Apieu Jenaro Aken, senior politician Dr. Justin Yac Arop and 18 other Sudan People's Liberation Army/Government officials on a leased CEM Air Beechcraft 1900 that crashed 375 km west of Juba, Sudan on May 2, 2008.

Life and career

Flag of Sudan People's Liberation Army

Dominic Dim, a member of the Dinka group from Bhar el Ghazel area was born in a remote village called Adol in Twic County, Warrap State, South Sudan. In 1962, he attended Nyarkach Primary School. He completed his primary education at Nyarkach and joined Kuajok Intermediate School in 1964.

In 1966, at the age of 16, Dim joined the rebels of Southern Sudan in the The First Sudanese Civil War. A peace agreement was signed in 1972, known as the Addis Ababa Accord, as part of the agreement Dim was absorbed in the Sudanese National Army (SNA) with a rank of 1st Lt.

While he was on active duty in the SNA, Dim under went several military courses. He passed the courses top of his batch. As a result Dim had rapid and regular promotions at different ranks in the Sudan National Army. With a new war brewing in the South, Dim eventually decided to leave the Sudan National Army with a rank of Col. and join SPLM/A in 1987.

His first assignment was Deputy Commander for Northern Zone (Bahr El Ghazal) which was commanded by the President of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit. Two years later, he was promoted to Commander and assigned to Central Zone (Bor), where he defeated Saif El Hobuor. Cdr Diim was wounded in this operation and was given permission to travel to London for medical treatment in 1991/1992.

While on medical leave, Dim enrolled at a London University and obtained BA Honoury degree in Business Administration. Dim was recalled to attend a leadership course in South Africa. In 1999, Dim was assigned as Commander of the Northern Zone (Bahr El Ghazal). In 2004 Dim was appointed as member of National Liberation Council, the highest political organ of the SPLM/A. In 2005, Dim became commander of Special Reserved Forces (Sudan People's Liberation Army) and nominated by Twic Community as member of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly, a position he served until his death.

In 2005, when Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed all the SPLA ranks were converted to be similar to that of Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) ranks. Dim was promoted to the rank of Lt. General. In 2006 Lt. Gen. Dim was sent to South Africa for military leadership course, part of a programme initiated by the South African Government, for SPLM/A senior staff.

In 2007 he became the first political officer of the Sudan People's Liberation Army when he was appointed as the first Minister for SPLA Affairs in the Government of Southern Sudan. He was also locally elected as the Chairperson of Warrap State Communities. Gen. Dim is buried alongside his wife at the Sudan People's Liberation Army Headquarters in Juba.

Personal life

Dim was married to Josephine Apieu Jenario Aken whom he met at Pannyok School where her father Jenario Aken was a teacher. They were married in 1973. Gen. Dim and wife are survived by 8 children and 2 granchildren.

References

• Arop Madut Arop (2006) Sudan's Painful Road To Peace: Founding and Development of SPLM/SPLA, ISBN 1-4196-1153-4
• Root Causes of Sudan's Civil Wars (African Issues) by Douglas H. Johnson (Paperback - 16 Jan 2003) ISBN-10: 0852553927

External links

• http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?iframe&page=imprimable&id_article=26987
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7380412.stm