Dr. Theophilus Ochang Lotti (or Loti) is a political leader in

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 C ...

. He was the leader of the

Equatoria Defense Force The Equatoria Defense Force (EDF) was a Sudanese militia. Area of operation and effectiveness It operated in the area around Juba and Torit (in modern-day South Sudan) and was perhaps the most politically effective group in the South Sudan Defen ...

, a militia, during the

Second Sudanese Civil War The Second Sudanese Civil War was a conflict from 1983 to 2005 between the central Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army. It was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil War of 1955 to 1972. Although it originate ...

(1983–2005). After the civil war ended, he was appointed Minister of Health, and then adviser to President

Salva Kiir Mayardit Salva Kiir Mayardit (born 13 September 1951), also known as Salva Kiir, is a South Sudanese politician who has been the President of South Sudan since its independence on 9 July 2011. Prior to independence, he was the President of the Governmen ...

Equatoria Defense Force leader

On 21 April 1997, as head of the Equatoria Defense Force, Theophilus Ochang signed the Khartoum Peace Agreement. Under this agreement, signed by several militias in South Sudan but not by the dominant

Sudan People's Liberation Army The South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), formerly the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), is the army of the South Sudan, Republic of South Sudan. The SPLA was founded as a guerrilla movement against the government of Sudan in 198 ...

, the government of Sudan offered a degree of autonomy to the southern states and a roadmap towards independence via a referendum. He agreed that he would fight under the coordinated command of

Riek Machar Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon (born 26 November 1952) is a South Sudanese politician who serves as the First Vice President of South Sudan. Political life In February 2020, Machar was re-sworn in as first vice president following a revitalised ...

. President Omar al Bashir named Theophilus a member of the Coordination Council of Southern States that was established in this treaty.

Minister of health

The civil war formally ended in January 2005. In November 2005, a few weeks after being appointed Minister of Health of the Government of South Sudan, Theophilus Ochang attended a two-day Program Review for Sudan's

Guinea worm eradication Dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, is an infection by the Guinea worm. In 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases of Guinea worm in 20 endemic nations in Asia and Africa. Ghana alone reported 180,000 cases in 1989. The number of ...

program at the Carter Center in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

, United States. In December 2006 he opened the first Program Review of the South Sudan Guinea Worm Eradication Program in

Juba 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 populatio ...

. In February 2007 Theophilus welcomed former U.S. President

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served as th ...

to Juba. During his Carter praised the Ministry of Health for their programs to eradicate Guinea worm and control

trachoma Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by bacterium ''Chlamydia trachomatis''. The infection causes a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. This roughening can lead to pain in the eyes, breakdown of the outer surface or cornea of ...

. In May 2007 the

International Organization for Migration The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a United Nations agency that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. The IOM was ...

(IOM) organized a meeting between Dr. Theophilus Ochang, Minister of Health and

Internally Displaced People An internally displaced person (IDP) is someone who is forced to leave their home but who remains within their country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the legal definitions of a refugee. ...

(IDP) doctors and other health professionals in Khartoum who were considering returning home. Theophilus described how badly medical skills were needed in the south, and added "this is not an undertaking of a few years. It is a job of a lifetime".

Later career

Theophilus Ochang was relieved of his position as Minister of Health on 2 July 2007 and was appointed advisor to the President on Social Services. In this position he had a direct reporting relationship to the president and was a dotted-line report to vice-president

. In May 2011, Theophilus Ochang was elected to the Advisory Council of the Horiok community of

Torit County Torit County is an administrative region in Eastern Equatoria of South Sudan, with headquarters in the town of Torit, which is also the state capital. Location Torit County is located in Torit State, in southern South Sudan, close to the border ...

Eastern Equatoria Eastern Equatoria is a state in South Sudan. It has an area of 73,472 km². The capital is Torit. On October 1, 1972, the state was divided into Imatong and Namorunyang states and was re-established by a peace agreement signed on 22 Febru ...

State. The purpose of the council is to coordinate community affairs in the ''Payams'' of Kudo, Himodonge, Iyire, Imurok and Ifwotu.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ochang, Theophilus Living people Sudanese politicians Year of birth missing (living people)