Administration National Liberation Council, SPLM; Former Minister of Transport and of Foreign Affairs Sudan
Description of Work:
Graduating with a PhD in Engineering from the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London in 1980, Ajawin taught chemical engineering at the University in Khartoum for several years before joining the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), 1986. He helped form and lead SPLA-Nasir, the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) faction which failed to overthrow leader John Garan. He held this position from 1991-1993, when he joined SPLM-United, serving various posts until 2003. Ajawin also served as Minister of Transport from 1999-2002. When a Government of National Unity was formed in 2005, joining leaders in Khartoum with SPLA leaders, the southern government was granted certain key ministries such as Foreign Affairs - of which Ajawin became the head. He currently represents the National Liberation Council of the SPLM. Sources: Brief Biographies from Brookings Institution Event "Peace in Sudan: Implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement" Friday June 27, 2008; http://www.c-r.org/our-work/accord/engaging-groups/operation-lifeline.php; http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/10/05/interview_sudan_fm_lam_akol-ajawin-on-darfur/ l_ajawin_on_darfur/1803/; http://www.wikipedia.org Photo source: www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article25360

Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin was born in 1950 to a Shilluk (also called Chollo) family, the third largest of Sudan's minority ethnic groups.