Riek Gai Kok Explained

Riek Gai Kok is a South Sudanese politician. He is a Lou Nuer, hailing from Chieng Man-nyang/Diang-nyang Akoba.^[1] A veteran politician, he has been a member of parliament in both Sudan and South Sudan.^[2] As of 2013, he served as Minister of Health of South Sudan.^[2]

1990s

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.^{[3] [4]} As of 1997-1998 he served as spokesperson of the South Sudan Independence Movement/Army (SSIM/A).^[5] As the late 1990s he served as wali (governor) of Jonglei state.^{[5] [6] [7]}

2000s

In 2002 he was named as chairman of the Southern States Coordination Council by president Omar al-Bashir.^{[8] [9]} As SSCC chairman, Riek Gai Kok was charged with administering the states of Southern Sudan.^[10] The appointment followed the defection of Riek Machar to the rebel side.^[11] As of 2002, Riek Gai Kok was also serving as Minister of Animal Resources in the Sudanese government.^[12] 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.^{[13] [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

In August 2013 Riek Gai Kok was named Minister of Health in the government of South Sudan.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Small Arms Survey, Geneva. Small Arms Survey 2010 Gangs, Groups, and Guns. Cambridge Univ Pr, 2010. p. 288
2. Al-Ahram. Kiir’s delicate game
3. Rone, Jemera. Civilian Devastation: Abuses by All Parties in the War in Southern Sudan. New York: Human Rights Watch, 1994. p. 184
4. Human Rights Watch. Famine in Sudan, 1998: The Human Rights Causes. New York: Human Rights Watch, 1999. p. 80
5. IRIN. 'SUDAN: A future without War?' - IRIN In-Depth on the prospects of peace in Sudan - Who is who
6. Sudan Update, Vol. 9–10. Committee for Peace and Reconstruction in Sudan, 1998. p. 53
7. Sudan Focus, Vol. 4–6. Focus International, 1997. p. 118
8. Rone, Jemera. Sudan, Oil and Human Rights. 2003. p. 338
9. Horn of Africa Bulletin, Vol. 15. Life & Peace Institute, 2003. p. 34
10. I.O.N., Eds. 1024–1069. Indian Ocean Information and Documentation Bank, 2003. p. 70
11. Press Digest, Vol. 10, Eds. 1–26. Anasir Publishers, 2003. p. 35
12. Marchés tropicaux et méditerranéens, Eds. 2956–2970. 2002. p. 1862
13. Young, John. Sudan People's Liberation Army: Disarmament in Jonglei and Its Implications. Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies, 2007. p. 4
14. Otayek, René, and Benjamin F. Soares. Islam, état et société en Afrique. Paris: Karthala, 2009. p. 398
15. IGIHE. South Sudan’s Kiir names new Cabinet
16. Sudan News Agency. Dr. Riek Gai Lauds Role of President Al-Bashir in Implementation of Comprehensive Peace Agreement
17. SudanTribune. NCP South Sudan office closes down as officials join SPLM