Who’s who of the SPLM-Juba faction: Kuel Aguer Kuel

SPLM, the ruling party of South Sudan, has fractured since the start of a civil war in December 2013. The faction of the party based in Juba remains under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.

SPLM, the ruling party of South Sudan, has fractured since the start of a civil war in December 2013. The faction of the party based in Juba remains under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.

The SPLM-Juba faction controls the cabinet, the presidency, a remnant of the SPLA, and several governorships. In a series of articles, Radio Tamazuj profiles some key party members who have remained loyal to Salva Kiir since the start of the crisis.

Factbox: Kuel Aguer Kuel

Kuel Aguer Kuel is a South Sudanese politician and the appointed governor of Northern Bahr al Ghazal State. He was born in 1958 to a cattle-keeping and farming family in a village near Ariath Payam, Aweil North County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

He started his elementary education at Ariath Primary School in around 1970 and went to Aweil Intermediate in 1977. He later went to Antop Secondary School in Medani, located south of the Sudanese capital Khartoum in Gezira state where he pursued secondary education until 1980.

He was afterwards admitted to Juba University in the College of Social and Economic Studies, specializing in Public Administration and Management and graduated there in 1987.

During this period as a student in government-controlled areas of Sudan, he appears not to have played any noticeable political role. He has no military background.

Kuel did a postgraduate diploma in Public Administration in Birmingham, United Kingdom. After finishing his studies, he sought employment with different non-governmental organizations, including Catholic Relief Services with whom he served in different capacities.

Among his postings was to Rumbek, Lakes State, where he served until the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which resulted in the formation of the Government of Southern Sudan.

Kuel attained a position within the new regional government as director for programs of the Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration Commission (DDR), serving in that capacity until he was appointed in October 2008 as Secretary for Finance and Economic Development at the southern secretariat of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement office in Juba.  

He was a political ally of the then-governor of the state Paul Malong Awan during the 2010 election, during a challenge by Gen. Dau Aturjong Nyuol, who is now in rebellion.

He also stood with Malong during a 2012 controversy over the dismissal of six state parliament members on the allegation that they were collaborating with members from other political parties in parliament against activities of the SPLM.

Kuel remained in his position at the SPLM Secretariat in Juba until he was appointed by President Salva Kiir as caretaker governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal in April 2014, after the elevation of the previous governor Paul Malong Awan to the position of SPLA Chief of Staff. Kuel is married with children.

More in this series:

Who’s who of the SPLM-Juba faction: Aleu Ayieny Aleu

Who’s who of the SPLM-Juba faction: James Wani Igga

Who’s who of the SPLM-Juba faction: Jemma Nunu Kumba

Who’s who of the SPLM-Juba faction: Telar Ring Deng