Abdallah Deng Nhial

Abdallah Deng Nhial (born c. 1954) is a South Sudanese politician and scholar. He has served in both Sudanese and South Sudanese governments in different positions. He hails from a Dinka family, and is a relative of John Garang. As part of his new ministerial responsibilities, he also overtook the role of Ali al-Hajj Mohammed in representing the Sudanese government in negotiations with the Sudan People's Liberation Army. In 1994 he was appointed as the governor of the While Nile state. He also served as parliamentary whip and Minister of Youth and Sports. His candidature was supported by 26,000 collected signatures. Commenting on Deng's candidature, the party leader al-Turabi stated that the Popular Congress Party wished to show that it was open to all Sudanese regardless of race or ethnicity. The presidential candidate of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, Yasir Arman, welcomed the nomination of Adballah, saying that the nomination broke the stereotype of Northerners vs. Southerners. Deng obtained 396,139 votes (3.9% of the national vote). Following the election Adballah alleged that the governing party had rigged the polls.

South Sudanese minister In July 2013, Deng was appointed Minister of Electricity, Dams, Irrigation and Water Resources in the South Sudanese government. A few days later he was appointed Minister of Environment in yet another reshuffle. President Salva Kiir dismissed him from his post on November 26, 2013. Deng had been involved in a physical fight with a Member of Parliament the week before.