27th Parliamentary-Intelligence Security Forum – A Global Security Agenda for Africa
Hon. Bol Gai Deng shared his personal journey from being born in Sudan around 1980, enduring enslavement as a child, and later escaping with assistance from the UN and the Virginia Council of Churches. He pursued studies in international relations and homeland security at Virginia Commonwealth University and has been a presidential candidate in South Sudan since 2018.
He highlighted ongoing political instability in South Sudan under the leadership of President Alvakir, who has repeatedly postponed national elections (2013, 2015, 2018, 2022, and now 2024–2026), undermining democratic processes. Deng stressed that this has created a dictatorship, blocking qualified candidates, including himself, from contesting freely.
He urged the international community to demand a free and fair election in South Sudan in 2025, with robust safeguards to ensure security, transparency, and independence from foreign interference, particularly from China. He drew parallels to interventions in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other African nations where international pressure helped enable democratic elections.
He concluded with a call for liberty, democracy, and electoral justice in South Sudan, emphasizing that a legitimate election is crucial for the nation’s future, regional stability, and its ability to engage in global trade and development.
