Dominic Dim Deng
Encyclopedia
Dominic Dim Deng was a senior member of Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, a prominent military General and the first Defence Minister
in the Government of Southern Sudan who lost his life alongside his wife Madam Josephine Apieu Jenaro Aken
, senior politician Dr. Justin Yac Arop and 18 other Sudan People's Liberation Army
and Government of Southern Sudan officials on a leased CEM Air
Beechcraft 1900
that crashed 375 km west of Juba, Sudan
on May 2, 2008.
Dominic Dim, a member of the Dinka
group from the Bahr el Ghazal
region was born in a remote village called Adol in Twic County, Warrap State, Southern 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 First Sudanese Civil War. A peace agreement was signed in 1972, known as the Addis Ababa Agreement
, 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 underwent 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 (Southeastern Dinka), 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 Honourary degree in Business Administration. 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.
Dim is buried alongside his wife at the Sudan People's Liberation Army
Headquarters in Juba.
Defence minister
A defence minister is a person in a cabinet position in charge of a Ministry of Defence, which regulates the armed forces in some sovereign nations...
in the Government of Southern Sudan who lost his life alongside his wife Madam Josephine Apieu Jenaro Aken
Josephine Apieu Jenaro Aken
Josephine Apieu Jenaro Aken a member of the Luo group from the Bahr el Ghazal area was born in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan....
, senior politician Dr. Justin Yac Arop and 18 other Sudan People's Liberation Army
Sudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
and Government of Southern Sudan officials on a leased CEM Air
CEM Air
-Background:CemAir Ltd is a privately owned, limited liability company incorporated under the laws of South Africa. The company was formed in 2005 with the purpose of operating turboprop commuter aircraft. The initial fleet consisted of 1 x Cessna Grand Caravan and 3 x Beechcraft 1900C's...
Beechcraft 1900
Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
that crashed 375 km west of Juba, Sudan
Juba, Sudan
Juba is the capital and largest city of the Republic of South Sudan. It also serves as the capital of Central Equatoria, the smallest of the ten states of South Sudan. The city is situated on the White Nile and functions as the seat and metropolis of Juba County.- Population :In 2005, Juba's...
on May 2, 2008.
Life and career
Dinka
The Dinka is an ethnic group inhabiting the Bahr el Ghazal region of the Nile basin, Jonglei and parts of southern Kordufan and Upper Nile regions. They are mainly agro-pastoral people, relying on cattle herding at riverside camps in the dry season and growing millet and other varieties of grains ...
group from the Bahr el Ghazal
Bahr el Ghazal
The Bahr el Ghazal is a region of western South Sudan. Its name comes from the river Bahr el Ghazal.- Geography :The region consists of the states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap. It borders Central African Republic to the west...
region was born in a remote village called Adol in Twic County, Warrap State, Southern 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 First Sudanese Civil War. A peace agreement was signed in 1972, known as the Addis Ababa Agreement
Addis Ababa Agreement
The Addis Ababa Agreement, also known as the Addis Ababa Accord, was a set of compromises within a 1972 treaty that ended the First Sudanese Civil War fighting in Sudan...
, 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 underwent 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
Bahr el Ghazal
The Bahr el Ghazal is a region of western South Sudan. Its name comes from the river Bahr el Ghazal.- Geography :The region consists of the states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap. It borders Central African Republic to the west...
) which was commanded by the President of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit
Salva Kiir Mayardit
Salva Kiir Mayardit is the first President of the Republic of South Sudan.-Sudanese civil wars:In the late 1960s, Kiir joined the Anyanya in the First Sudanese Civil War. By the time of the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement, he was a low-ranking officer...
. Two years later, he was promoted to Commander and assigned to Central Zone (Southeastern Dinka), 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 Honourary degree in Business Administration. 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
Sudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
) 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
Sudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
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.
Dim is buried alongside his wife at the Sudan People's Liberation Army
Sudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
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 eight children and two grandchildren.External links
- http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?iframe&page=imprimable&id_article=26987
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7380412.stm
- http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?iframe&page=imprimable&id_article=26987