Southern Sudanese officials to visit Central New York

A group of high-ranking Southern Sudanese officials will be in central New York this week for a tour. The group of officials will consist of one of Southern Sudan’s 10 state governors and the state’s ministers of heath, finance, trade and industry, housing and physical infrastructure, according to The Post-Standard.

These officials will visit the regions educational facilities, meet with Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney, and speak at LeMoyne College and State University College at Oswego. 

All talks at the colleges are free. At LeMoyne, the talk will be held on Wednesday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m. in Grewen Auditorium in Grewen Hall. SUNY Oswego is hosting the officials twice. They will speak about building a new nation on Thursday, March 3 at 4:30 p.m. in room 222 of Sheldon Hall. Then on Friday, March 4 at 10 a.m. in room 133 at the Campus Center, the officials will address the country of Sudan in general. 

The man responsible for bringing the officals to Central New York is visiting LeMoyne religion professor, Darius Makuja. Makuja is the brother of Sam Felix Makuja, Southern Sudan's health minister. Darius Makuja went on a trip to Southern Sudan last year and met with the governor, Louis Lobong Lojore. The professor explained that the governor believes it's a good idea to share the Sudanese political state with American people. 

South Sudan's new government will assume full control starting July 9. Sudan is Africa's largest country by land mass. Sudanese have been struggling with two civil wars for many decades. The vote for southern independence was decided in January when citizens voted to secede. 

Their trip is sponsored by LeMoyne College, SUNY Oswego, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, the Sudanese community and Catholic Charities, according to The Post-Standard. 

Photo by Martha_jean/flickr