Institute of Development Studies

Luka Biong Deng, former Minister for the Government of Sudan is IDS Visiting Fellow

When Luka Biong Deng completed his DPhil in 2004, he went on to become Minister for Cabinet Affairs of the Sudan. He explains why he returned to IDS as a Visiting Fellow and what it means to be back at IDS.

Luka Biong Deng who resigned from his government position in May, says that ‘Southern Sudan is a new country, facing its own challenges on how to shape its future; I am investigating the most effective ways to meet the needs of the people.’ He is at IDS to discuss Sudan's challenges and to find significant approaches to 'getting it right.'

He believes studying at IDS gave him a unique insight on development. ‘It helped my understanding of issues in a distinctive way. The environment is conducive to new and critical thinking on development.’   Looking at issues of violence, conflict and development, he recently gave an IDS Members Seminar on ‘Vulnerability and Civil War: The micro-perspective from South Sudan’.

Having been a Minister for over 6 years, he took the opportunity to give himself time and distance to reflect on the current situation in Sudan. He came back to IDS to share his experience with staff and current students and is currently part of the Knowledge, Technology and Society Team (KNOTS). His work is primarily focussed on how oil and aid can work (if managed properly) as resources for the South. He is working closely with comparator countries dealing with similar issues.

Dr Biong Deng returns to Sudan in November as Chief Executive of Kush Inc, an NGO designed to promote peace, stability and economic and infrastructure development in Africa with an emphasis on South Sudan. His plan is to engage with communities to make a difference.