Josephine Apieu Jenaro Aken (1 May 1955 – 2 May 2008), a member of the

Luo Luo may refer to: Luo peoples and languages *Luo peoples, an ethno-linguistic group of eastern and central Africa **Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania or Joluo, an ethnic group in western Kenya, eastern Uganda, and northern Tanzania. *** Luoland, th ...

group from the

Bahr el Ghazal Bahr el-Ghazal (Arabic بحر الغزال , also transliterated ''Bahr al-Ghazal'', ''Baḩr al-Ghazāl'', ''Bahr el-Gazel'', or versions of these without the hyphen) may refer to two distinct places, both named after ephemeral or dry rivers. Chad ...

area, was born in Wau,

Western Bahr el Ghazal Western Bahr el Ghazal is a state in South Sudan. It has an area of and is the least populous state in South Sudan, according to the controversial Sudanese census conducted in 2008. It is part of the Bahr el Ghazal region. Its capital is Wau. ...

South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the ...

. She was a member of the

Sudan People's Liberation Movement The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM; ar, الحركة الشعبية لتحرير السودان, ''Al-Ḥarakat ash-Shaʿbiyyat liTaḥrīr as-Sūdān'') is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as the political w ...

Early life and education

Aken was born in Alur, Kuarjena and studied telecommunications at Juba Training Centre in

Khartoum Khartoum or Khartum ( ; ar, الخرطوم, Al-Khurṭūm, din, Kaartuɔ̈m) is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile, flowing n ...

. She later went to the UK to study business at the

Open University The Open University (OU) is a British public research university and the largest university in the United Kingdom by number of students. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based in the United Kingdom and principally study off- ...

Career

Aken started her career as a postal office worker. From 1973 to 1976, she worked at the Department of Education in South Sudan. In 1976, she shifted her career to coordination and worked in Khartoum until 1987. In 1987, Aken moved to the United Kingdom. She co-created the SWA in February 1991 and was the organization's chair from 1994 to 2000. After resigning from her seat as chair, she became the SWA's coordinator.

Politics

Before joining the Government of South Sudan, she was the Director of the Sudan Women Association based in London Abbey Community Centre, Kilburn, London, UK. She was a senior civil servant in the Government of

Southern Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Con ...

. From 1994 to 2008, Aken served in the National Liberation Council for the

(SPLM).

Charity Work

In 2000, Aken was appointed the chair for the Camden And Westminster Refugee Training Partnership. She remained at the charity until 2004. A few years later, in 2006, Aken moved back to South Sudan and was selected to direct the Southern Sudan Employees Justice Commission (SSJEC).

Death

On May 2, 2008, Aken died in a plane crash alongside her husband Minister for SPLA Affairs General Dominic Dim Deng, in

Juba, Sudan Juba () is the capital and largest city of South Sudan. The city is situated on the White Nile and also serves as the capital of the Central Equatoria State. It is the world's newest capital city to be elevated as such, and had a population ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aken, Josephine Apieu Jenaro 1955 births 2008 deaths People from Western Bahr el Ghazal Luo people South Sudanese civil servants Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Sudan South Sudanese women in politics 21st-century South Sudanese women politicians 21st-century South Sudanese politicians South Sudanese politicians of Luo descent