Basketball player and peace activist Luol Deng met with US President Barack Obama on Friday and advised him to support the peace agreement signed this month by both South Sudanese warring parties, according to a statement from the White House.
Luol Deng, who plays for the basketball team Miami Heat, fled South Sudan as a child with his family. Currently he plays basketball professionally, but he has also been working to promote unity among citizens of his native land and within the diaspora.
According to the White House statement, Luol “met with President Obama in the Oval Office to discuss the situation in South Sudan.”
“After the meeting, Luol said the President thanked him for his efforts and asked for his advice on how the United States can best support the peace agreement signed this week,” the White House disclosed.
Recently, Luol Deng also returned to South Sudan for a visit and inaugurated a new basketball court at Juba University, encouraging youths to join in playing sports and promoting peace amongst each other.