Joseph Oduho
Encyclopedia
Joseph Oduho Haworu was a leading politician from South Sudan
who was active in the struggle for independence and a founding member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).
in what is now Ikotos County
, Eastern Equatoria state in Southern Sudan on 15 December 1929.
He was educated at Isoke Catholic Diocese Elementary School and Okaru Intermediate School, and became one of the first students at Rumbek
Secondary School. He studied in Nyapeya in Uganda, then in Bakht Al Ruda Teacher's Institute, earning a Diploma in teaching in 1950. Following this he was a headmaster in intermediate schools in Maridi
, Okaru and Palotaha.
In 1953 Joseph Oduho led a protest against the lack of representation of southern, non-Arab people in the negotiations over Sudan's independence.
He was arrested in Maridi after the 1955 mutiny in Torit
, accused of conspiracy and sentenced to death. He was released in the general amnesty after independence on 1 January 1956.
Odohu was elected to the first post-independence parliament in 1957. He spoke in favor of a federal organization for the underdeveloped regions of the south. The army seized power in 1958 and Joseph Oduho fled the country in 1960.
(1962-1964).
He and William Deng published the first formal declaration of Southern Sudan objectives in The Problem of the Southern Sudan (1962). In this paper they argued for independence of the non-Muslim south from the Muslim north of Sudan.
Joseph Oduho was one of the leader of the exiles seeking independence. Between 1965 and 1967 he was president of the Azania Liberation Front. He finally broke with the exile groups in 1971 due to disagreement with Joseph Lagu
, commander of the Anyanya
guerrilla fighters, who wanted to subordinate the political wing of the movement to the military wing.
Oduho was committed to the unity of Southern Sudan, while Lagu wanted to withdraw into a smaller "Equatoria" region.
were appointed to the southern executive.
He was given the position of Minister of Housing in the Southern Regional Government, Juba
(1972-75).
In 1975, Joseph Oduho was accused of plotting for southern secession and was arrested, but was released in 1976 after an amnesty declared by President Gaafar Nimeiry
when the South Sudan Union (SSU) and northern political parties had come to an agreement.
Joseph Oduho ran successfully for election in 1977.
He was appointed Minister of Cooperative and Rural Development (1978-1980) and Minister of Labour and Administrative Reforms (1980-1982). He was a member of the SSU Central Committee.
In 1982 there were disturbances across the south, with some ethnic minority leaders calling for greater decentralization.
Joseph Oduho was opposed to this, consistently advocating southern unity. He though that decentralization and tribalism were being fostered by northern politicians in order to weaken the south.
Joseph Oduho went into exile again and became a founding member of the SPLM.
When the party was established on 16 May 1983, Joseph Oduho was made chairman and Colonel John Garang
, a Dinka army officer, was made commander of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Later Oduho was deposed by Garang, who made himself leader of the SPLA/M.
For several years Oduho was imprisoned by the SPLA. He was released in 1992 and went to East Africa, founding a movement of opponents of Garang.
In March 1993 he flew to Khartoum to meet with dissident leaders, and then to Kongor
in Jonglei State for further meetings with a view to broadening the base of SPLM leadership.
A fight broke out between factions at the meeting on 27 March 1993 in which Oduho was killed.
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
who was active in the struggle for independence and a founding member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).
Early years 1929-1960
Joseph Oduho was born into the Latuka community of LobiraLobira
Lobira is a community in Ikotos County, Eastern Equatoria state, South Sudan. It is on the southern road between Torit and Kapoeta, and lies to the north of Lobira hill....
in what is now Ikotos County
Ikotos County
Ikotos County is an administrative area in the Eastern Equatoria state of South Sudan with headquarters in the town of Ikotos. The people, who live by subsistence agriculture and cattle herding, are poverty-stricken. Years of civil war have made violence commonplace: most people have experienced...
, Eastern Equatoria state in Southern Sudan on 15 December 1929.
He was educated at Isoke Catholic Diocese Elementary School and Okaru Intermediate School, and became one of the first students at Rumbek
Rumbek
Rumbek is a town in South Sudan.-Location:The town of Rumbek is located in Rumbek Central County, Lakes State in central South Sudan. This location lies approximately , by road, northwest of Juba, the capital and largest city in that country. Rumbek sits at an elevation of above sea level...
Secondary School. He studied in Nyapeya in Uganda, then in Bakht Al Ruda Teacher's Institute, earning a Diploma in teaching in 1950. Following this he was a headmaster in intermediate schools in Maridi
Maridi
-Location:Maridi is located in Maridi East County, Western Equatoria State, near the international border between South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This location lies approximately , by road, west of Juba, the capital of South Sudan and the largest city in that country...
, Okaru and Palotaha.
In 1953 Joseph Oduho led a protest against the lack of representation of southern, non-Arab people in the negotiations over Sudan's independence.
He was arrested in Maridi after the 1955 mutiny in Torit
Torit
-Location:The town is located in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, in the southeastern part of South Sudan, close to the International border with the Republic of Uganda. Its location lies approximately , by road, east of Juba, the capital and largest city in that country...
, accused of conspiracy and sentenced to death. He was released in the general amnesty after independence on 1 January 1956.
Odohu was elected to the first post-independence parliament in 1957. He spoke in favor of a federal organization for the underdeveloped regions of the south. The army seized power in 1958 and Joseph Oduho fled the country in 1960.
Exile leader 1960-1972
Joseph Oduho was a founding member and the first president of the Sudan African National UnionSudan African National Union
The Sudan African National Union is a political party formed in 1963 by William Deng Nhial and other Sudanese exiles in Uganda. In the late 1960s the party contested elections in Sudan seeking autonomy for South Sudan within a federal structure. The exile branch of the party meanwhile supported...
(1962-1964).
He and William Deng published the first formal declaration of Southern Sudan objectives in The Problem of the Southern Sudan (1962). In this paper they argued for independence of the non-Muslim south from the Muslim north of Sudan.
Joseph Oduho was one of the leader of the exiles seeking independence. Between 1965 and 1967 he was president of the Azania Liberation Front. He finally broke with the exile groups in 1971 due to disagreement with Joseph Lagu
Joseph Lagu
Joseph Lagu is a South Sudanese military man and politician...
, commander of the Anyanya
Anyanya
The Anyanya were a southern Sudanese separatist rebel army formed during the First Sudanese Civil War . A separate movement that rose during the Second Sudanese Civil War were, in turn, called Anyanya II...
guerrilla fighters, who wanted to subordinate the political wing of the movement to the military wing.
Oduho was committed to the unity of Southern Sudan, while Lagu wanted to withdraw into a smaller "Equatoria" region.
Southern Sudan government member 1972-1983
On 3 May 1972 the Addis Ababa agreement was ratified as "The Southern Provinces Regional Self-Government Act 1972", bringing a temporary halt to the civil war. Joseph Oduho and Samuel Aru BolSamuel Aru Bol
Samuel Aru Bol was a prominent politician in Southern Sudan. During the Second Sudanese Civil War he signed the Khartoum Peace Agreement of 1997 as representative for the Union of Sudan African Parties .-Early years:...
were appointed to the southern executive.
He was given the position of Minister of Housing in the Southern Regional Government, Juba
Juba
- Locations :* Juba, the capital of South Sudan* Juba, Estonia, a village in Võru Parish, Võru County, Estonia- People :* Juba I of Numidia * Juba II of Numidia * Juba of Mauretania...
(1972-75).
In 1975, Joseph Oduho was accused of plotting for southern secession and was arrested, but was released in 1976 after an amnesty declared by President Gaafar Nimeiry
Gaafar Nimeiry
Gaafar Muhammad an-Nimeiry was the Nubian President of Sudan from 1969 to 1985...
when the South Sudan Union (SSU) and northern political parties had come to an agreement.
Joseph Oduho ran successfully for election in 1977.
He was appointed Minister of Cooperative and Rural Development (1978-1980) and Minister of Labour and Administrative Reforms (1980-1982). He was a member of the SSU Central Committee.
In 1982 there were disturbances across the south, with some ethnic minority leaders calling for greater decentralization.
Joseph Oduho was opposed to this, consistently advocating southern unity. He though that decentralization and tribalism were being fostered by northern politicians in order to weaken the south.
Second civil war 1983-1993
In 1983, President Nimeiry dissolved the Southern Region that had been established following the 1972 Addis Ababa agreement.Joseph Oduho went into exile again and became a founding member of the SPLM.
When the party was established on 16 May 1983, Joseph Oduho was made chairman and Colonel John Garang
John Garang
John Garang de Mabior was a Sudanese politician and rebel leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War, and following a peace agreement he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan from January 2005 until he died in a July 2005...
, a Dinka army officer, was made commander of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). Later Oduho was deposed by Garang, who made himself leader of the SPLA/M.
For several years Oduho was imprisoned by the SPLA. He was released in 1992 and went to East Africa, founding a movement of opponents of Garang.
In March 1993 he flew to Khartoum to meet with dissident leaders, and then to Kongor
Kongor
Kongor is a community in Jonglei state, South Sudan. It is in Kongor Payam in Twic East County.Kongor is in Dinka territory.The village is to the east of the White Nile and about north of Bor....
in Jonglei State for further meetings with a view to broadening the base of SPLM leadership.
A fight broke out between factions at the meeting on 27 March 1993 in which Oduho was killed.