Samson L. Kwaje
|
Dr Samson L. Kwaje | |
| Languages | |
|---|---|
| Bari, English and Arabic | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Nilotic peoples |
Samson Lukare Kwaje (1946 - August 1, 2010) was a senior member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement's Political Bureau, the highest political organ of the former rebel movement that now governs Southern Sudan. He was the Minister of Information for the newly established Government of Southern Sudan from 2005 to 2008. Dr. Kwaje was from Pojulu Tribe from Central Equatoria. He served as the spokesman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and its military wing the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLM/A) during the Second Sudanese Civil War prior to the creation of the Government of Southern Sudan following the signing of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on 9 January 2005 by the late SPLM leader, Dr. John Garang (June 1945 - 30 July 2005)and President of the Government of Sudan, President Omar al-Bashir.
He served as Minister of Agriculture and forestry in the Government of Southern Sudan. Dr. Kwaje died of kidney complications in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday 1 August 2010. Born in 1940s, late Kwaje obtained his master's degree in 1974 and PhD in late 1970s, both from universities in the United States of America.
Before joining the movement in 1990s, the late held a ministerial position in the then regional government based in Juba in 1980s.
From 1995 to 2004, he was put in charge of information desk in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army and became its official spokesperson. He also played a great role during the Naivasha peace talks with the then Government of Sudan which led to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). In 2005 during the formation of the Government of Southern Sudan, Kwaje was appointed the first minister of Information and Broadcasting. However, in 2008 he was switched to the ministry of Agriculture and Forestry during a reshuffle. He had been holding the post even after the elections when the government was formed. Kwaje was the head of the presidential campaign team for the SPLM Chairperson and current President, Gen. Kiir. He died at 2:55AM on the early morning of Sunday, August 1, 2010, in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Late Kwaje has two wives and is survived by seven children.