Lam Akol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lam Akol
|
|
|---|---|
| Chairman of the SPLM-DC | |
| Assumed office June 2009 |
|
| Minister of Cabinet Affairs of Sudan | |
| In office 17 October 2007 – Unknown |
|
| President | Omar al-Bashir |
| Preceded by | Deng Alor |
| Succeeded by | Dr. Luka Biong |
| Foreign Minister of Sudan | |
| In office 20 January 2005 – 17 October 2007 |
|
| President | Omar al-Bashir |
| Preceded by | Mustafa Osman Ismail |
| Succeeded by | Deng Alor |
| Transport Minister of Sudan | |
| In office March 1998 – 2002 |
|
| President | Omar al-Bashir |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 15, 1950 (age 74) Athidhwoi, Upper Nile |
| Political party | SPLM-DC (since 2009) |
| Other political affiliations |
National Congress (until 2002) Justice party (2002-2003) SPLM (2003-2009) |
| Alma mater | Imperial College London |
| Nickname | ALPHA BETA |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  SPLA (1983-1991) SPLA-Nasir (1991-2002) |
| Battles/wars | Second Sudanese Civil War |
Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin is a politician from South Sudan. He belongs to the Shilluk community. He is currently the leader of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) party.
Dr. Akol was once a high-ranking official in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). This was a group that fought for change in Sudan. Later, he became the Foreign Minister of Sudan. He held this important job from September 2005 to October 2007. This happened as part of a peace agreement.
Lam Akol's Early Life and Education
Lam Akol was born on July 15, 1950. His birthplace was Athidhwoi, in the Upper Nile region.
He studied hard and earned a Ph.D. (a very high university degree) in chemical engineering. He got this degree from Imperial College London in the United Kingdom. After his studies, he taught at the University of Khartoum in Sudan.
Lam Akol and the SPLA
Lam Akol secretly joined the SPLA in October 1983. He became an official member in 1986. The SPLA was a group fighting in the Second Sudanese Civil War.
In 1991, he, along with Riek Machar and Gordon Kong, left the main SPLA group. They formed their own group called the SPLA-Nasir.
Later, in April 1993, other leaders joined them. These included William Nyuon Bany and Kerubino Kwanyin Bol. Their combined group was then called SPLA-United.
In February 1994, Lam Akol was removed from his position by Riek Machar. He then became the leader of another part of the SPLM/A-United. This happened after some SPLA commanders were released from detention.
In 1997, Lam Akol signed the Fashoda Peace Agreement with the government. This was a step towards peace. In March 1998, he was appointed as Sudan's Minister of Transportation. He held this government job for four years.
In 2002, Akol left the ruling National Congress (NCP) party. He then joined a new opposition group called the Justice Party. In October 2003, he and most of his forces rejoined the main SPLA group.
In 2005, Lam Akol wrote about his role in starting "Operation Lifeline Sudan." This was a big effort to bring help and supplies to people in need.
In October 2007, the SPLM group left the government in Khartoum. They asked for Lam Akol to be removed from his job as Foreign Minister. They felt he was too close to the government. The SPLM leader then suggested him for Minister of Cabinet Affairs. President Omar al-Bashir confirmed this on October 17. Deng Alor, another important SPLM member, took over as Foreign Minister.
