Philemon Majok

Philemon Majok Kuong (1905–1982) was a South Sudanese politician who advocated for Sudan unity. Majok was born in Ador, Yirol, with a Nuer father and a Dinka Ciec mother. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant in the British Police Force during Anglo-Egyptian rule. During World War II, he fought for the British in Ethiopia. Majok's post-war contributions included urban planning and tree planting in Lakes State.

In 1947, Majok represented the Lakes District at a conference, initially opposing a united legislative assembly for Sudan but later supporting it. Majok established a successful farm in Magreng, aiding during the 1954 famine. He served in various political roles, including Minister of Mechanical Transport and founding the Sudan Unity Party in 1964. He was a member of the Sovereignty Council and founded the Sudanese Nile Party. He was elected to the House of Representatives until the 1969 coup, he was later detained by Jaafar Nimeiry.

Majok retired from politics in 1971, managing the Yirol Oil Factory and serving as the President of Yirol Bench Court.

Early life Philemon Majok Kuong was born in 1905 in Ador, a town located approximately 24 miles northeast of Yirol. His father was Nuer from Nyuong, and his mother was Dinka Ciec from Ador. His father had sought refuge in Yirol to escape British persecution.

As a young boy, Majok completed his education at Malek Elementary School (1912–1916) in Bor and later attended Loka Intermediate School. Initially opposing the idea of a united legislative assembly for the entire Sudan, he later joined other Southern delegates in supporting the concept on the second day of the conference.

In 1957, he established the Yirol Agricultural Scheme for cultivating sesame and oversaw the construction of the Yirol Oil Factory. As Minister of Mechanical Transport, he advocated for the construction of the Shambe-Wau road. Majok also served as a member of the Central Council (1963–1964) and was appointed as the deputy chairman for the Commission for Southern Affairs in August 1964.

Following the collapse of the Ibrahim Abboud regime in 1964, Santino Deng and Majok founded the Sudan Unity Party and led it to the Juba Round Table Conference in March 1965, and a peaceful resolution to the Southern Sudan question.

Sovereignty Council Majok was a member of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council from 5 Jul 1965 until 27 May 1968. The council came after the general parliamentary elections in 1965, the third in the history of Sudan, as it replaced another Sovereignty Council, which was managing the country's affairs for a transitional period after the overthrow of the rule of Lieutenant General Ibrahim Abboud. This Sovereignty Council consisted of five members, and its members were amended twice. The Chairman of the Sovereignty Council was Ismail al-Azhari. During Abdallah tenure, he joined the first line-up which came to power from 10 June 1965, and it was composed of Ismail al-Azhari (Council Chair), Majok, Khader Hamad (Democratic Unionist Party), Abdul Rahman Abdoun, and Abdallah al-Fadil al-Mahdi, who after his death was succeeded by Daoud Al-Khalifa Abdullah. Majok joined to replace Luigi Adwok Bong Gicomeho (Southern Front) who resigned on 14 June 1965. and was succeeded by Jervase Vak. In addition, Majok expressed that Southerners behaved in a manner resembling children in their interactions with the more mature Northern Sudanese. He compared this situation to children needing to consume milk before they could transition to eating bread (kisra). Similarly, he believed that Southerners should be given a chance to learn the principles of self-governance before actively participating in governance.

Sudanese Nile Party Majok founded the Sudanese Nile Party in 1967 and was based in Bahr al-Ghazal. It contested five seats in the 1968 Constituent Assembly election, and won one.

He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1968–1969 until it was dissolved due to the 1969 coup d'état. Ambassador Majak Philemon, Chief Machiek Majok, among many.

Majok died in 1982.