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, hailing from Nyuöng, 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.
Police and army career
In 1933, he joined the British Police Force and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, the highest rank attainable by a Sudanese individual under colonial rule.
During World War II, he fought on behalf of the British against the Italians in Ethiopia. After the war, he was assigned to administrative duties in the Lakes State, where he organised urban planning and tree planting in Rumbek and Yirol.
Political career
In June 1947, he was chosen as the sole delegate from the Lakes District by the Governor of Baher el-Gazal to participate in a conference. 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 1948, Majok resigned from government service and established his home and farm in Magreng. He introduced large-scale mechanical farming to the area, and his farm achieved remarkable success, yielding over £1000 Sterling Pounds during the 1951–1952 season. His farm also served as a food source during the 1954 famine, helping many Dinka and Nuer families.
Majok was elected to represent Yirol in the Legislative Assembly in Khartoum in 1948. He played a role in the formation of the Southern Party (later known as the Liberal Party) in 1953 and was elected to the House of Representatives in Khartoum in the same year. He later joined the National Unity Party (NUP) and was appointed as the Minister of Mechanical Transport in 1956.
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. He proposed a commission to address the issues of Southern Sudan, although it was not taken seriously by the government.
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, aligning the party's position with that of the Southern Front Party to promote Sudan unity, and a peaceful resolution to the Southern Sudan question.