H. Res. 98

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

March 6, 2007.

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 demonstrated 

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 Dr. Garang skillfully managed to consolidate his 

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

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

Garang demonstrated remarkable political and military 

leadership for over two decades; 

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; 
2

•HRES 98 EH 

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; 

Whereas the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which was 

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

January 9, 2005, provides Southern Sudan the right to 

self determination through a referendum after six years 

and also offers 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 returning to Southern Sudan from Uganda: 

Now, therefore, be it 
3

•HRES 98 EH 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

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

Garang de Mabior; 

(2) reaffirms its commitment to a just and lasting 

peace in the Republic of the Sudan; 

(3) calls for full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement without any delay; 

(4) strongly urges the people of Southern Sudan 

and its leaders to continue to support Dr. Garang’s vision for a new Sudan; 

(5) strongly urges the full commitment of the 

United States, the United Nations, the European Union, 

the African Union, and the League of Arab States to 

support Dr. Garang’s vision for a new Sudan by endorsing democratic elections throughout Sudan in 2009, as 

provided by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement; 

(6) strongly supports the creation of a Dr. John 

Garang de Mabior Institute for Agriculture, Peace, and 

Economic Development in Southern Sudan; and 

(7) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to 

the Secretary of State with a request that the Secretary 

transmit it to Dr. Garang’s widow, Rebecca Garang, and 

to the Government of Southern Sudan, through the Of-
4

•HRES 98 EH 

fice of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) 

in the District of Columbia. 

Attest:

Clerk.