William Deng Nhial

William Deng Nhial (1929 – 5 May 1968) was the political leader of the Sudan African National Union (SANU), from 1962 to 1968. He was elected unopposed. He was one of founders of the military wing of the Anyanya fighting for the independence of southern Sudan. He was ambushed and killed by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on 9 May 1968 at Cueibet, on his way from Rumbek to Tonj. The Sudanese government denied having authorised his assassination. Although no investigation was conducted, eyewitnesses at Cueibet village and an SANU investigation committee confirmed the SAF's part in his death.

Background

William Deng was of Dinka origin, and was born in Tonj, then in Bahr al-Ghazal. He joined the government as an administrator.

The exiles moved back to Kampala in Uganda in 1963, with the movement renamed the Sudan African National Union (SANU). The SANU was an active force in Sudanese politics for the next four years, advocating Federal system of government within united Sudan. The SANU in exile rejected Deng's moderated approach, and opted for separate independent southern Sudan.

Assassination

In the 1968 election, William Deng won his seat by a landslide, but was assassinated just as the results were announced. His son Nhial Deng Nhial later became a leading politician in the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement, and in December 2008 was appointed Minister for SPLA Affairs, or Defense Minister.