Deng Deng Akon (born 15 December 1964) is a South Sudanese politician and a member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition. He was elected as Speaker of the House for the Council of States on 2 August 2021.[1]

Deng Deng Akon
Speaker of the Council of States
Assumed office
2 August 2021
Preceded byJoseph Bol Chan
Personal details
BornDecember 15th 1964
MarialBai, Aweil West County
Political partySPLM-IO

Early life

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Deng was born on 15 December 1964, in MarialBai, Aweil West County of NBG.[citation needed]

Political Career

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In February 2013, Akon was included on the list of officers from the Sudan People's Liberation Army to be placed on reserve status. He held the rank of Brigadier-General at the time.[2]

In December 2013, Akon was detained along with ten other members of the ruling party, the SPLM, after a failed coup. He was released on 27 December 2013 alongside the ex-minister for higher education, Peter Adwok Nyaba. Akon had formerly served as director in the previous Vice President's office.[3]

In 2020, he was a member of the Cabinet of South Sudan.[4] He was dismissed from the cabinet in July 2021, along with all serving members at the time.[5] On 2 August 2021, he was sworn in as the Speaker for the Council of States alongside the entirety of the Parliament.[6] He urged the separation of powers and adherence to the constitution in an address to the governors and chief administrators of each state at the governor's forum on 22 November 2021.[7]

In August 2022, the Mayom County Commissioner was summarily executed.[8] The Council of States then passed a vote of no confidence in Unity State Governor Dr. Joseph Monytuil. Akon, as the Speaker, received a letter dated 25 August 2022 that the Council was not permitted to pass that vote and would only be able to censure Monytuil with a three-quarter majority of the combined parliament.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "South Sudanese Lawmakers Sworn into Office". 2 August 2021.
  2. ^ Wël, PaanLuel (18 February 2013). "Names of the 118 Retired SPLA Brigadier Generals". Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  3. ^ "S. Sudan releases two political detainees, calls for ceasefire". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  4. ^ "South Sudan President Salva Kiir names full Cabinet". The East African. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  5. ^ Chang, Koang (27 July 2021). "Kiir removes deputy minister of cabinet affairs". Eye Radio.
  6. ^ "South Sudan parliament fully reconstituted as MPs swear in". Juba Echo. 2 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  7. ^
  8. ^ Okuj, Obaj (17 October 2022). "Council of States meet Kiir, to visit conflict-torn regions". Eye Radio. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Council of States cannot withdraw confidence in Governor Munytuil: Kiir's office". Radio Tamazuj. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2024.