IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 496 

Honoring the life and achievements of the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior 

and reaffirming the continued commitment of the House of Representatives to a just and lasting peace in the Republic of the Sudan. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 17, 2005 

Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. WOLF, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. 

MEEKS of New York, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, and Ms. WATSON) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on International Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life and achievements of the late Dr. John 

Garang de Mabior and reaffirming the continued commitment of the House of Representatives to a just and 

lasting peace in the Republic of the Sudan. 

Whereas Dr. John Garang de Mabior, founder and leader of 

the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/ 

A), was born on June 23, 1945, in Bor, Sudan; 

Whereas Dr. Garang joined the Anya-Nya Movement in 

1970, a liberation movement in southern Sudan, and 

after the 1972 Addis Ababa Peace Agreement, he became 

a member of the Sudanese Armed Forces; 

Whereas, as Deputy Director of the Military Research 

Branch of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Dr. Garang dem-
2 

•HRES 496 IH 

onstrated his leadership abilities in the early stages of his 

military career; 

Whereas Dr. Garang studied economics at Grinnell College 

and received his master of arts and doctorate degrees 

from Iowa State University; 

Whereas as the undisputed leader of the SPLM/A, Dr. 

Garang demonstrated remarkable political and military 

leadership for over two decades; 

Whereas Dr. Garang skillfully managed to consolidate his 

base after the devastating split in the SPLM/A in 1991; 

Whereas Dr. Garang was a soldier, a scholar, a statesman, 

and a father, who had a clear vision and unwavering love 

for his people and country; 

Whereas Dr. Garang fought for 22 years to achieve a just 

peace for his people, but only served 21 days as First 

Vice President of Sudan; 

Whereas Dr. Garang fought not only for the people in southern Sudan, but also for the forgotten and long 

marginalized people of the Nuba Mountains, Southern 

Blue Nile, Darfur, and other regions of the country; 

Whereas Dr. Garang worked tirelessly to help build international support for a new Sudan that would be multiethnic, multi-religious, democratic, and united; 

Whereas the new Sudan envisioned by Dr. Garang, if fully realized, would be a country in which all Sudanese would 

live in peace without discrimination and hatred, with 

equality, pride, and dignity; 

Whereas Dr. Garang creatively and painstakingly managed 

the often conflicting aspirations of his people for an independent southern Sudan and his vision for a new Sudan; 
3 

•HRES 496 IH 

Whereas the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which was 

signed by the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A on 

January 9, 2005, gave southern Sudan the right to self 

determination through a referendum after six years and 

also offered the northern establishment in Sudan the opportunity to make unity attractive during the interim period; 

Whereas on July 8, 2005, millions of people throughout 

Sudan came to show their support in Khartoum when 

Dr. Garang was sworn in as First Vice President of 

Sudan; and 

Whereas on July 30, 2005, Dr. John Garang died in a helicopter crash on his way back to southern Sudan from 

Uganda: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the life and achievements of Dr. 

3 John Garang de Mabior; 

4 (2) reaffirms its commitment to a just and last5 ing peace in the Republic of the Sudan; 

6 (3) calls for full implementation of the Com7 prehensive Peace Agreement without any delay; 

8 (4) strongly urges the people of southern Sudan 

9 and its leaders to continue to support Dr. Garang’s 

10 vision for a new Sudan; and 

11 (5) directs the Clerk of the House of Represent12 atives to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution 

13 to the Secretary of State with a request that the 

14 Secretary transmit it to Dr. Garang’s widow, Re-
4 

•HRES 496 IH 

1 becca Garang, and to the Government of Southern 

2 Sudan, through the Office of the Sudan People’s 

3 Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the District of Co4 lumbia. 

Æ