Samuel Garang Dut
Samuel Garang Dut Thiangdit is a South Sudanese politician and activist who has served as the Minister of Cooperative and Rural Development in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan, since 2023. He is a member of the state government under Governor Tong Akeen Ngor.
Biography
In December 2020, Dut was arrested in Aweil after publicly criticizing Tong Akeen Ngor for mismanagement of public funds. The civil court convicted him of defamation and detained him for eight months, imposing a. Shortly after his release, military intelligence arrested him in Juba, accusing him of supporting Paul Malong Awan, a rebel-turned-politician and former governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. Dut remained detained for nearly ten months until his release in 5 August 2023.
Career
Following his release, Simon Uber Mawut appointed him Deputy Commissioner for State Revenue Authority for Administration and Finance in August 2024. This appointment represents a significant shift from activism to a formal administrative role in state governance . His work involves overseeing rural development policies, promoting cooperative societies, and improving agricultural productivity in the state.