Garang, John (1945–2005)

Sudanese guerrilla leader of the southern rebels in the country's civil war. He defected from the army in 1970 and joined the Anya Nya rebels. In 1983 he set up the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA), which raided government installations in southern Sudan. In 1984 he formed the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). In 1991 the SPLM formed a government in exile with Garang as leader. His position was weakened by opposition to his authoritarian style of leadership and the overthrow of his ally in Ethiopia Mengistu Haile Mariam. In August 1997 South African president Nelson Mandela invited Garang and Sudanese president al-Bashir to take part in peace talks.

Born in Jonglei, Garang belonged to the Dinka ethnic group. He received a doctorate in agriculture from Iowa State University, USA.