Dr. John Garang de Mabior was a Sudanese politician and revolutionary leader. From 1983 to 2005, he led the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement as a commander in chief during the Second Sudanese Civil War. He briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan for three weeks, from the comprehensive peace agreement of 2005 until his death in a helicopter crash on July 30, 2005. A developmental economist by profession, Garang was one of the major influence on the movement that led to the foundation of South Sudan.
John Garang
John Garang of Sudan
Garang in a crowd of supporters
Grave of John Garang in Juba, South Sudan - guarded by SPLA-soldiers
South Sudan People's Defence Forces
The South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), formerly the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), is the army of the Republic of South Sudan. The SPLA was founded as a guerrilla movement against the government of Sudan in 1983 and was a key participant of the Second Sudanese Civil War, led by John Garang. After Garang's death in 2005, Salva Kiir was named the SPLA's new Commander-in-Chief. As of 2010, the SPLA was divided into divisions of 10,000–14,000 soldiers.
High-ranking SPLA officers at the South Sudan independence celebrations, 2011
Salva Kiir Mayardit, Commander-in-Chief of SPLA
SPLA officer as part of Joint Integrated Units during the CPA era
