Remembering General Bior Ajang Duot

Late General Bior Ajang Duot (facebook)

By: Deng Duot D’Ajur

On the morning of Wednesday 14 August 2024, I missed a call from Deng Duot-thith Bior. I returned the call to him at 5:59 A.M. In the phone conversation before I could speak, he told me “I have bad news for you, and I want you to be strong” He explained that General Bior-Col had fallen. I asked what Hospital did you take him to? Deng replied to me that “We just came home from the funeral home”. Our talk only lasted for 1 minute and 54 seconds before I ended my call. I was in a state of shock and disbelief. My heart was devastated beyond belief and imagining compared to when Akol Athian and Ajangthuc Bior Duot came to us without my father in 1995. His passing caused me some psychological and emotional distress.

I called Uncle Kuir Garangthii, Manyok Monychol Lueth. At this significant time of enduring distress. We were tasked with the responsibility to inform our relatives and elders of our community as much as possible before social media users spread his passing.

General Bior Ajang touched my personal life immensely, since 1995 he left a footprint that I can never disregard. My father was a solider, like most of his generation, who joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and Movement (SPLA/M). Duot Deng Jok was trained in the Bonga Training Camp and graduated in 1984. He was assigned to the Agrab battalion and entrusted with a Soviet Union made PK machine gun.

I grew up during the SPLA- led war of revolution and many more house names always appeared, hearing their names very frequently. On the other hand, I was not sure what their names meant in our contemporary history. I remembered Captain. Lual Deng Thon. Captain Bul Bior Aguer, Mayom Mamour Duot, Duot Deng Jok and many more of their colleagues gathered under a tree around 9 a.m.. In their respective conversations they regularly conversed about Dr John Garang de Mabior, Cde Kerubino Bol, Cde William Nyuon, Cde Salva Kiir and Cde Arok Thon Arok. As I grew older and started to realize they were Permeant High Military and Political Command (PHMC) of SPLA/M. They were key decision makers driving the policy of war from its inception.

Since we did not have modern day computer games. My childhood game was wargames using bullets shells as our military pieces. Those of General Bior, General Biar Atem Ajang, Chol Gai Arop, George Athor Deng Dut, William Deng Garang Beny and countless other officers were commanding officers in war with other children of our age.

In 1993 and 1994 respectively, General Bior Ajang became another big household name with his comrades that were defensive and offensive of civilians that were affected by 1991 SPLA-split. Geneal Bior made a decisive decision when SPLA-mainstream head of cattle were given the responsibility to my late father. There were a lot of cattle that were kept at our home. The cattle belong to SPLA under the command of Bior Ajang Duot.

In 1995, my father was killed in action during the operation of Ayod when the SPLA mainstream made an offensive to defend Panyagor as commanding post headquarter. General Bior again made a great decision to reward my father with one (1) head of heifer. Of him I remembered many great things and the good things he did for my father instead of our relationship as members of the same family of Bior-kueigaak.

General Bior left his commanding post as he embarked for another assignment in late 1997. The heifer he gave to my family made a significant contribution to our extended families. It was later used to help in a marriage arrangement, as it is part of a Dinka tradition. I left our village to pursue and search for better education in Equatoria. General Bior and I never saw one another or talked again until 2018. In Dinka tradition, a cow is given a name and my mother’s name our cattle “gum-baar” meaning it protected us from deceased of my father.

In 2018, I decided to return to South Sudan, hoping to join the national army. The South Sudan People’s Défense Force (SSPDF). At first, I sought some advice from a friend of mine. My friend told me before I joined. I should talk to General Bior before I make my final decision on whether to join or not. It was very honest and decisive advice. I called General Bior on the phone and told him my plan and why I needed to join the Army over the phone. He responded in a few words and said to me when you come, we will talk more. I went to Juba for a period of two weeks and the next day I visited General Bior’s residence in the afternoon. We met and had a very lengthy, constructive and engaging conversation that lasted for about 1 and half hours.

Mainly, our conversation outlined my reasons and expressions of interest, and how important it is to be a member of the defence force. Eventually I convinced him, and he convinced me through his thoughtful and in-depth understanding of the states and why it would be a great vision to follow in their footsteps. I returned to Australia with a very inspirational message from general Bior.

In August 2019, I went back to South Sudan for a period of 5 weeks. This was at the time when we lost Eng. Bior-moor Ajang Duot. The residence of the general was always full of mourners because the late engineer body was still being airlifted from England to South Sudan. We did not have a good discussion this time round. Because my time in Juba was short as I planned to visit my mother in Uganda and my mother-in-law in Kenya respectively. However, I told him that I will go back to Australia.

Subsequently, I dropped off uncle Yaak Dut Yaak from general Bior’s residence to his home in Jebel with Manguok Atem Dut. I was a driver that evening, I introduced myself to uncle Yaak Dut Yaak. Uncle Yaak told countless narratives to me, how he heard more about my great-grandfather Jok Ajur. He explained Jok was an inevitable characteristic of his generation. He described Jokdit as a courageous fighter and how he won the friendship and influence of Duot Bior-kueigak. Anyway, this is not a topic to write about today.

In 2021, I went to South Sudan for a third time to attend cadet military training in Dr John Military College. However, the training did not take place due to shortages of food and other key military requirements. I lived in Juba for a period of nine (9) months, I always went to general Bior’s residence. We became connected in many ways, and I later realized how vital general Bior was to his people and a loyalist to his country. I do select few movements with him, major-general Bior-matoto Kuir Deng and I. They tried to connect me with some of their friends in the defence departments and other government agencies.

On Friday 9 April 2021, General Bior Ajang, General Bior-matoto and I went to see the director-general of the general intelligence Bureau (GIB). The director was general Thomas Douth Guet at that time. On our arrival at the gate, well-guarded security and a brick fence. General Bior-matoto said to the soldiers that I am with Lieutenant general Bior-Aswad and in the car with me were other personal. All the soldiers in the compound stood up saluting the general with very high regard. We proceeded to see the DG without an appointment. The three generals’ conversation was very interesting to listen to. They were speaking in classic Arabic which I cannot comprehend.

Thereafter, General Bior-Aswad introduced me to general Thomas and the reason for our visit. Our hope was very optimistic knowing that everything would be done on Monday as he was going to have a meeting with his subordinates in the afternoon. Unfortunately, General Thomas was dismissed from external security as a director-general by president on Saturday 10th April 2021. It was a big day and many junior’ officers in GIB were wondering why general Bior Ajang Duot came to GIB. The president appointed general Simon Yien Makuach as his replacement.

Again, in May 2021, the three of us went back again to GIB to see General Simon Yien Makuach the new spy chief of external security. It was another showdown. General Bior Ajang is very well decorated and respected general in South Sudan. General Yien was pleased to see that uncle Bior visited him and delivered his congratulation message for the appointment. In the same token, general Bior remains general Simon on my application in the office of the former director. General Simon Yien promised that there are courses coming up in July 2021 from French and Italy security services agencies interested to invest in South Sudan security agencies. General Bior Ajang really showed me how he could possibly help me achieve my aspirations and fulfil my expression in defence.

While we were returning, General Bior Ajang asked general Bior Kuir to pass through the Peace Orthopaedic Hospital where captain. Garang Wal Mayen Ayii was hospitalized from an accidental gunshot wound. Captain Garang was wounded in his right shoulder from a 12.7mm machine gun at close range, fired in his barrack by another soldier. It was an accident, and tension was very high along the communal line. The captain is a commando officer. When we arrived at the Hospital. You can see in the patient's eye how excited he was seeing Bior Ajang visiting him. To me, you can tell that despite being out of government he still showed love and respect for his loyalty to soldiers and at one point he led them in front.

On 29 July 2021. General Bior and I were travelling in his car to attend the funeral services of late sultan Deng Ajang Ajak, popularly known as Deng-ayang. On the same day there was another welcoming celebration of children of Yar Reeck Gak at his residence. But two of us decided to go there because I knew Alaak Deng Ajang here in Australia and general Bior knew Sultan Deng-ayang back in Panyagor when he was a commander. Our conversation was centred around insecurity in our county Twic East and flooding of the Nile basin. When we approached Old Juba bridge. General Bior asked his driver to drive a car slowly so he could possibly have a better look at how the River Nile waters are spreading and rising sea levels. There is a big stone in the middle of the river and the level waters reached on the stone will surely determine whether the water level has risen or not, since the country does not have climatic instruments. General Bior's top priority was the difficulty of flooding and how to mitigate it from displacing our place back home.

In the funeral, General Bior Ajang gave a speech that remembered and described the late sultan as a very energetic and entertaining elder. He referred to him as among the people who helped them fight the war of 1993 and beyond. Those of Deng Ajang Ajak make jokes about Kongor and Ayual intercommunal war of early 1920s. Realistically, Bior Ajang is a nationalist when you join his radar. I sat next to him before General Atem Marol came. He was narrating to me what he was thinking in his role as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Défense to create a University for Veterans in South Sudan.

To best prepare in response to flood-water using dikes, general Bior collected empty plastic sacks in Juba and transported them to Twic East headquarters. Evidently, he went to Panyagor on the same day when his uncle Professor Isaac Bior Deng-alieu’s funeral was commemorated in his residence in the same year. Bior Ajang take all the heavy duty and sandbags for flooding control to Panyangor.

General Bior Ajang wholeheartedly admires with an enthusiastic heart and spent his 4 years as a Chairman of Twic East Community trying to make fresh public conversation trying to honestly come to terms with what he wants right for his citizens of Twic East.

Looking back at the last 40 days thinking about his passing, I feel a sense and sadness that this is not real at some time. Even though death is real in human nature. People pass away whether they are middle aged, young or elderly. However, there is a tremendous feeling that if I decided to go back to South Sudan next year. I feel like he would still come out from his house to sit down with us under the tree and make conversation.

The only other general observation I make during the range of subjects covered is despite how conversional and diverse the topic is. General Bior cannot go into a zone that is full of negativity or comment on things that might generate problems.

Every time President Salva Kiir appointed a Chief of Défense forces or a Minister of Défense, General Bior would send a congratulation message to him or her. He makes an appointment to speak directly to the appointee on matters concerning national issues such border problems and looking after veterans. At one-point General Bior suggested to someone closer to the president to appointed five key people from the following departments defence, intelligence, foreign affairs, academia and military intelligence to help study and understand the issues surrounding Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam. Because building this Dam caused a great tension and dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia. General Bior was a true patriotic national figure of our time.

General Bior Ajang literally watched those who were at political and military crossroads and advised them not to showcase the military experts and exercise war using their own citizens. Bior showed to the world and South Sudanese that it is very excellent to be ambitious, calculating and focused on well-being and protecting citizens from danger and insecurity. Bior Ajang presented himself and distinguished himself as an individual whose Caliber and characteristics are unmatchable in a terrible world of lobbyists and money laundering.
In summary, it is also accepted by the people of Bor South, Twic East and Duk counties that General Bior decision to make people marriage themselves without cattle in the 1990s had let to the current generation in the three counties. He explained to chiefs and elders’ women whom their respective husband is killed or died must be resettled in resettlement camps or nearby countries where their relatives are displaced. General Bior talked with John Parker representing a humanitarian agency to help young children and families that were in necessary needs.
On personal level, I last talked with General Bior Ajang on 13 July 2024. We spoke for 13 minutes. Our conversation was on another attempt has been made for him to visit Australia despite political interference. He was optimistic it can be possible for him to visit Australia if his visa can be granted. General Bior Ajang visa has been declined or rejected possibly three time bearing political interest particularly our people involvement through the Immigration in Kenya.
General Bior Ajang Duot had touched and sharped the life of many South Sudanese people whom he had met in person or via a distance. General Bior is remembered by the author as an important and influential figure in our nation’s history. I predict books will be written in honouring his service to the nation. Gen Bior Ajang Duot (RIP).