Hussein Abdelbagi
Hussein Abdelbagi Akol Agany | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971 Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Fifth vice president of South Sudan, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security |
Hussein Abdelbagi Akol Agany () is a politician from South Sudan who formerly held the position of fifth vice president within the unity government.
Early life
Born in 1971, Abdelbagi belongs to the Malual Dinka community originating from Northern Bahr el Ghazal. He is the son of Sultan Abdelbagi Akol (1928–2020), a notable tribal leader among the Malual Dinka and recognized as the spiritual leader of Muslims in southern Sudan.
Career
Abdelbagi previously acted as the chief of general staff for the South Sudan Patriotic Army, which was part of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance. In August 2018, his group separated from the SSPM/A, opposing both rejection of the peace process and border assaults. By July 2019, competing factions within SSPM/A reported leadership conflicts, with Abdelbagi assuming the role of speaker for the SSOA faction headed by Gabriel Changson Chang.
According to the unity government arrangement, the SSOA had the privilege to nominate one out of five vice presidents. When consensus could not be achieved, President Salva Kiir Mayardit appointed Abdelbagi on 23 February 2020 as the fifth vice president. This appointment marked him as South Sudan’s inaugural Muslim vice president and its highest-ranking Muslim official in government.
On 10 February 2025, a cabinet reshuffle by President Kiir resulted in Josephine Lagu replacing Abdelbagi as vice president, while Abdelbagi was reassigned as minister of agriculture and food security. Soon after, on 20 February, he was expelled from the SSPM due to insubordination and attempts to depose party leader Costello Garang Ring Lual.