Elijah Malok Aleng

Elijah Malok Aleng
Born	1937-11-28
Died	2014-10-30 Nairobi, Kenya
Occupation(s)	Military leader, politician, banker
Known for	Governor of the Bank of South Sudan; Member of Parliament for Bor North; SPLM/SPLA official

Elijah Malok Aleng (28 November 1937 – 30 October 2014, Nairobi, Kenya) was a distinguished South Sudanese official, military leader, and politician originating from the Twic Dinka community in Jonglei State. His birthplace was Thianwong village near Bor, with his family roots tracing back to Awulian in Wangulei, Twic East County. His education included attendance at Malek Primary School (1950–1953), followed by studies at Juba Intermediate School and Juba Commercial Senior Secondary School. He obtained a master's degree in economics from Fribourg Catholic University, Switzerland in 1972, and later earned another master's degree in Development Studies and Economic Planning from Wolfson College, Cambridge in the United Kingdom in 1975. Influential mentors during his formative years included Chief Deng Biar Abit, Paul Logali (who served as Southern Sudan's finance minister), and Akec Kwai Biar (former District Commissioner of Bor).

In May 1982, he secured election as the Member of Parliament representing Bor North constituency in the regional parliament of Sudan.

Early career

Aleng entered the ranks of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA) on 28 December 1983, initially appointed as a senior political commissar beginning June 1984. After completing training at Cadet Military College where he graduated with the rank of Major, he was assigned to the Southern Blue Nile front serving as second-in-command of the Eagle Battalion—a unit predominantly composed of Dinka combatants from Northern Bahr el Ghazal. By mid-1987, he was designated SPLM’s special envoy to francophone West Africa, functioning as Resident Representative based in the People's Republic of the Congo with non-residential responsibilities spanning several nations such as DRC, Gabon, Cameroon, CAR, Rwanda, Burundi, and Chad. His principal station was Brazzaville.

Positions and roles in Africa

Continuing his engagement across Francophone Africa until the advent of multi-party democracy in 1991, Aleng was appointed executive director of the Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Association (SRRA) from June 1991 until January 1993. Subsequently, he acted as SPLM spokesman for East Africa throughout 1993. In January 1994, he assumed the role of Secretary for the Convention Organising Committee during the inaugural SPLM/A National Convention held in Chukudum. Following this event, he gained election to the National Liberation Council (NLC) representing Bor North and fulfilled duties as Secretary of the National Executive Council (NEC), overseeing Coordination and Public Service.

In 1997, he transitioned into an advisory capacity focusing on economic, financial, and political matters for the SPLM/SPLA chairman. He returned to lead SRRA as executive director and served ex-officio on the NEC concerning humanitarian affairs starting February 1999. Throughout Sudan’s peace negotiations involving government representatives and SPLM from 1985 to 2005, Aleng consistently held the position of Secretary for the SPLM delegation until the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was finalized in January 2005.

After the CPA’s implementation, he was appointed Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sudan and President of the Bank of Southern Sudan (BOSS).

Post-South Sudan independence

Following South Sudan’s declaration of independence on 9 July 2011, Aleng acted as the de facto Governor of the Bank of South Sudan (BSS) until his removal by President Salva Kiir Mayardit in August 2011. His deputy, Kornelius Koryom Mayiik, succeeded him. During his governorship, he introduced South Sudan’s inaugural currency—the South Sudanese pound—which he co-signed alongside then Finance Minister Deng Athorbei. His leadership priorities included addressing corruption and preventing misuse of government funds.

He maintained his rank as Lieutenant General within the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) until his passing on 30 October 2014.

Aleng authored Southern Sudan Struggle for Liberty, published by East Africa Publishers in 2009.