Dr. Majak Agoot Atem, One of the most Competent South Sudanese Politicians
By Bul Deng Bul Ayiik, USA
Monday, 17 November 2025 (PW) — There has been a continuous suggestion about the best fit politicians to replace the former Vice President. It appears Dr. Majak Agoot Atem is one the politicians who has been suggested by different South Sudanese social media commentators. As his younger comrade, who grew up and learned many things during the liberation struggle, I want to add what I know about Dr. Majak Agoot Atem from his childhood, academic journeys, liberation struggle, and political achievements. He is one the sons of Agoot Atem Abuoi and Alek Majak Bol from Anok clan, Pakeer section of Twic East. Some people usually misunderstood his grandfather’s name as relative of Akuot Atem Mayen who is from a different clan called Nook but there is no blood relationship between their families. They happened to be from Pakeer section which consists of six clans that are not related by blood. The six clans of Pakeer of Twic East can intermarry among themselves.
Dr. Majak Agoot Atem has been known for outstanding competency since his early days in Maar Primary School in Twic East, Mangala Primary school in Central Equatorial, Malek Secondary School in Bor, and tertiary education in Great Britain and the United States. His former classmates like Bishop Dr. Isaiah Majok Dau and others testified about his brilliant academic performances until he left his secondary school to join the SPLM/A in 1983.
Majak Agoot joined the SPLM/A in 1983 at the age of 18 years. When all recruits entered military training in Bongo in 1983 and the years that followed, the people who joined the movement from the former Sudan armed forces and experienced civil servants were identified as potential officers in the SPLM/A. Those who joined the movement as university and secondary school students were given general examinations to test their education and general knowledge. These examinations were set and administered by the Ethiopian instructors to maintain fairness in marking the answers. The results of the examinations were given to the commanders like Dr. John Garang, Kerubino Kuanyin, William Nyuon, Salva Kiir, and others. That is where Dr. Majak Agoot Atem excelled in his examinations. Based on his excellent performances and discipline in examinations, he was recommended by Ethiopians instructors as a potential strong military officer. He was automatically promoted as 1st Lieutenant because of best performance and recommendations from his instructors.
He was deployed to fight in Jekow in 1985 as one of the officers of Koryom or Locust Division. He fought bravely until he was badly wounded on his right arm. He was rescued and carried to the military camp by his comrades who fought alongside him. He was referred to Ethiopia for medical treatment. After receiving treatment and full recovery, commander Salva Kiir Mayardit selected him as his adjutant. He was sent to Cuba for military and guerrilla war training. He returned with strong recommendation again from his Cuban trainers.
Because of his excellent performances, military discipline, and recommendations from the Ethiopian and Cuban trainers, Commander Salva Kiir Mayardit identified and selected him as one of the strong officers to work within his escort. He recommended his promotion to the rank of Captain. He was also put above Shell One. Commander-in-Chief, Dr. John Garang de Mabior, approved his promotion as a captain in 1987.
Captain Majak Agoot’s contribution in the capturing of Pochalla and Pibor in 1987.
Dr. John Garang decided that Pochalla and Pibor must be liberated to open another route to be followed by the new recruits to Ethiopia for training. He ordered commander Salva Kiir Mayardit to join him in the liberations of these two important towns. They deployed some battalions of ZalZal One division to capture Pochalla in 1987. They proceeded to Pibor and they ordered Commander Kuol Manyang to dispatch reinforcement of Cobra and Zindia battalions from deployment around Bor.
Commander-in-chief, Dr. John Garang and Commander Salva Kiir drew the strategic plan to attack Pibor. Captain Majak Agoot and other officers in charge of the battalions and companies made plans to attack the town. Pibor was attacked and captured, and Majak Agoot distinguished his bravery and strategic military tactics in the watch of his commanders Dr. John Garang and Salva Kiir. Captain Majak Agoot got credits and recognition for the capturing of Pibor and Pachalla. After the liberation of Pachala and Pibor, the morale of the SPLM/A was boosted because a huge number of recruits from Bhar el Ghazal, Jonglei State, and Equatoria started to move through Pibor and Pachala to arrive within a few weeks in training centers in Ethiopia. For example, ZalZal Two, Infijaar, Intifaza, Deng Nhial, and Teraf divisions went to Bonga, Panyudo, and Dima through Pibor and Pachala.
Captain Majak Agoot’s contribution in the capturing of Kurmuk, Blue Nile in 1987.
After the paths of Pibor, Pochalla, Kapoeta, and Buma were opened for recruits to reach Ethiopia within a few weeks, the SPLM/A commander-in-Chief with his commanders decided that Kurmuk must be liberated quickly so that the recruits from Blue Nile and Eastern Sudan will join the SPLM/A. Dr. John Garang had to go abroad to search for more weapons on behalf of the SPLM/A. He assigned commander Salva Kiir Mayardit to command the capturing of Kurmuk. Base on the military strategies they applied to capture Pibor, Commander Salva Kiir developed strong trust on Captain Majak Agoot. He went with him as an adjutant in charge of his escort and battalions to attack Kurmuk. They made a strategic plan to attack Kurmuk with some battalions and several other officers. They attacked Kurmuk and they captured it. Commander Salva Kiir Mayardit and Captain Majak Agoot earned credits in the capturing of Kurmuk for their bravery and strategic military plans. SPLM/A opened a new route for the people of Blue Nile to join the SPLM/A. That was a big success of the movement through the teamwork of Commander Salva Kiir, Captain Majak Agoot and other officers who commanded their forces.
Captain Majak Agoot’s contribution in military training of the SPLM/A.
After Captain Majak Agoot fought bravely alongside commander Salva Kiir Mayardit by applying the modern military tactics he acquired from his Ethiopian and Cuban military trainers, Commander Salva Kiir Mayardit recommended him to Commander-in-chief to assign him to lead the SPLM/A general training in Bongo and other training centers to impart his military tactics to all guerrilla liberators. The chairman of SPLM/A agreed to assign Captain Majak Agoot 1987 to replace Mawiendit Akot AKA Agangrial who has been leading the SPLM/A training since 1984 in Bongo. Bongo Training Center was one of the main headquarters of the SPLM/A. That mean Captain Majak Agoot was leading all the SPLM/A training in Bilpam, Panyudo, Zinki, and Dima in Ethiopia. He trained all the Zalzal 1 & 2, Infijaar, Intifaza 1 & 2, Intisaar 1 & 2 until the government of Ethiopia was overthrown in 1991.
Captain Majak Agoot’s contribution in the evacuation of South Sudanese and SPLM/A weapons from Ethiopia in 1991.
The former president of Ethiopia, Mengisto Haile Marriam was Dr. John Garang’s friends who hosted the SPLM/A and refugees. The downfall of Mengistu Mariam in Ethiopia caught South Sudanese off guard because the means of communication were scarce in 1991. Dr. John Garang tasked commander Salva Kiir Mayardit to evacuate our people, vehicles, and weapons from Ethiopia. Commander Salva Kiir Mayardit considered Captain Majak Agoot as his trusted righthand man. He delegated Captain Majak to command the SPLM/A forces against OYANA or Ethiopian rebels to slow down their chase against the SPLM/A forces and their refugees. Commander Salva Kiir and Captain Majak Agoot fought against the Ethiopian rebels or OYANA until the South Sudanese were successfully evacuated. The exit from Ethiopia to South Sudan was done successfully regardless of the losses incurred.
Commander Majak Agoot’s contribution to the war against Nasir Faction in October 1991
After Commander Salva Kiir and Captain Majak Agoot evacuated South Sudanese and weapons from Ethiopia. Dr. Riek Machar and Dr. Lam Akol broke away from the mainstream SPLM/A. They formed South Sudan Independent Movement/Army (SSIM/A) in Nasir. They launched their indiscriminate attacks on civilians and SPLM/A controlled areas especially the former Kongoor and Bor districts.
Captain Majak Agoot was promoted to commander with many other officers of the SPLM/A. He was assigned to command the last SPLM/A battalions he trained and graduated in Bongo, Ethiopia. The division was called Intisaar 2, also known as Jesh Hamer Majak Agoot. He commanded these forces against the Nasir faction. These protagonists’ forces confronted each other in the battle of Payoom in current Twic East County. His forces fought bravely in those battles, but his forces were fighting militias who were inspired and led by spiritual leader (called Wurnyang) who lied to them that their fighters will get killed and rise again. This fake prophecy from their magicians emboldens them to fight to death.
That fake prophecy made it too difficult to chase them while they believed they will rise after death. The Nasir militias were also scattered all over the areas where civilians were fleeing in disarray and it was hard to identify and fight the real militias without harming the fleeing civilians. The SPLM/A dispatched more reinforcement under commander Salva Mathok Gengdit and commander Bior-Asuot Ajang Duot. However, the battle continued to be extremely hard with heavy losses on both sides of the opposing forces. The forces of Jesh Hamer Majak Agoot, Commando of Bior Ajang, and Mobile Forces of Mathok Gengdit made a tactical withdrawal. Nasir militias inflicted more harm on the civilians until other forces were mobilized by Commander Kuol Manyang and Bior Ajang to chase the Nasir faction away from Panyagor in 1993.
Commander Majak Agoot’s contribution in the War against SAF in Buna in 1992-1994.
After commander Majak Agoot made tactical withdrawal in Bor, he returned to Kapoeta to graduate and lead the forces of Jesh Hamer that were being trained in Kapoeta in 1992. He arrived in Kapoeta but before he ordered the force to move, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) sent multiple battalions to attack and capture Kapoeta. Achuil Tito Madut oversaw Kapoeta as a military administrator when it was captured by Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). Commander Majak Agoot felt the call of duty and mobilized forces and established the SPLA Camp in Buna between Kapoeta and Narus in South Sudan. Commander Majak Agoot applied his guerrilla tactics to plant landmines and deployed his forces to stop Sudan armed forces from reaching Narus and Kenyan border. He stood his ground with a few forces of the SPLM/A and scarce weapons until they defeated the huge and heavily armed forces of Sudan government. He saved the SPLM/A by destroying the Sudan Armed forces including their heavy tanks and artillery that are still visible as wreckages in Buna, Equatoria.
Commander Majak Agoot’s contribution in the war of Blue Nile in 1996-1999
After the Nasir faction broke away from the SPLM/A. Sudan government took advantage of the split and mobilized their forces to recapture almost all the SPLA controlled areas except Buma, Nimule, and Narus. The leaders of the SPLM/A conducted the Chukudum Convention, acquired new weapons, remobilized the forces, and opened new frontlines across South Sudan and Blue Nile. Commander Majak Agoot was redeployed to Blue Nile where he was involved in the first capture of Kumuk in 1987. Commander Majak Agoot was redeployed to Blue Nile to recapture Kurmuk for the second time including the surrounding towns of Koor Yabus, and other towns in 1997-2000. His redeployment there to recapture Kurmuk revived the strong relationship between the SPLM/A and the liberators of Blue Nile like commander Malik Agar, and others. The SPLM/A took the war closer to Khartoum which scared the Khartoum regime to accept peace negotiation in Kenya.
Lt. General Majak Agoot’s contribution in the Referendum and Independence of South Sudan.
After the CPA implementation started, Lt. General Majak Agoot was appointed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to oversee the Intelligent department on his behalf in Khartoum. He worked very hard to counteract all the Sudanese intelligent plans to derail the Referendum. Sudan government was notoriously famous for abrogating agreements and derail self-determination. They put several obstacles to repeat that tactics, but Lt. General Majak Agoot did not let down President Salva Kiir and the citizens of South Sudan. The NCP government allocated huge budget to South Sudanese who were aspiring to run as MPs versus SPLM in South Sudan to ensure that NCP won many parliamentary seats. There were many other plans to bribe South Sudan citizens to vote for unity during the referendum exercise. Despite NCP obstacles against the referendum, Lt. General Majak Agoot did everything in his power to ensure President Salva Kiir and people of South Sudan won their independence. He worked with the President and Ministry of Finance to convince the NCP aspirants not run and deny themselves bribes from Khartoum regime. He also did a great job in modernizing the Ministry for Defense after the President appointed him as the Deputy Defense Minister, but his term was cut short due to normal changes among cabinet.
Dr. Majak Agoot Atem’s academic achievement.
Throughout the liberation struggle Dr. Majak Agoot went beyond expectation in frontlines fighting, military training, commanding the SPLM/A, and capturing towns from Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). Because he has been unwavering in achieving his goals, he sat for his secondary school certificate and passed it highly in the brink of CPA negotiation. He applied to get admission of his bachelor’s degree and was accepted. He completed his bachelor’s degree while the CPA negotiation was ongoing. He applied to get admission for his master’s degree and PhD and was accepted. He completed his master’s and PhD while he was working as the deputy director of National Security in Khartoum from 2005-2010. It is amazing how brilliant he is given the shortest time he spent studying for his Bachelor, Master, and PhD. It is obvious from this biography that this politician reads widely and understands any information faster. He has one of the brilliant minds not only in South Sudan but the universal level. He proved his brilliance by achieving the First World education within a shorter period even though he was a war veteran who passed through hardships. He is now working as a lecturer and a visiting fellow in prestigious universities in the U.S. and the U.K.
Dr. Majak Agoot Atem a high achiever.
This explanation of his biography shows that he has been an outstanding achiever in military operations during the liberation struggle. He trained many SPLM/A divisions on how to apply the guerrilla war tactics, operations of bigger weapons/tanks, and planting of landmines. Hence, he deserved credits for many accomplishments of the SPLA forces in frontlines. He was the bridge of unity between the escorts of Salva Kiir and Commander-in-Chief, Dr. John Garang during the years of liberation struggle. Dr. John Garang and Salva Kiir enjoyed trust and teamwork during the years Majak Agoot was coordinating between the senior commanders. He will reconnect the cabinet, parliament, and citizens of South Sudan to the President of South Sudan if appointed as the Vice President.
He studied economics and attained the highest level of education in it. He will help the president to solve the current economic crisis of South Sudan. He is very knowledgeable, skillful, and has a problem-solving capacity to solve the current economic crisis. His understanding and desire to read widely will let him apply all the economic methods that brought economic prosperity in industrialized countries like America, Britain, Germany, France, China etc. He will be the best fit for the position of the Vice President for Economic cluster.
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