Moses Mading Kueth

Moses Mading Kueth was born in June 6, 1943 in Thol, Nyirol County of Jonglei State, South Sudan. He passed away peacefully at his home in Papillion, Nebraska, USA, in January 5, 2025 at 8:45 Am CST. He was under a hospice care in his home surrounded by his loving family. Moses spent his early years going back and forth between Thol, Nyirol county, Deror and Tangyoak of Akobo county. He grew up in a country marked by a rich cultural heritage and significant challenges. Due to improper birth dates records back in the early days, we believe he was born approximately in 1940 or 1941; however, he was 81 years old according to his officially recorded birth date of 1943.

Moses Mading was a son to Kueth Chuol Bang Deng from Lou Nuer section of Gaat-Bal, subsection of cieng Lhang in Nyirol county and to his mother Nyathäk Yuäl Kuei Pey from Lou Nuer section of cieng Yoal subsection of cieng Both Doak in Akobo county.

Mading grew up in a nurturing household that instilled values of resilience and strength. 

He married in 1971 to Nyakaka Reat Goäch Diing, a dedicated partner who remained by his side throughout his life’s journey. His wife is from Jikany section of cieng Yoal-Keen, subsection of cieng Duop community in Nasir/Kanylual-Thoan. She took care of him during his illness until his death. She sacrificed a lot to take care of her husband during his difficult time of his life.

Moses Mading and his wife were blessed with 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Moses is survived by his wife Nyakaka Reat Goch and his children: Bank Mading Kueth, Wan Mading Kueth, Nyakor Mading Kueth, Dobuol Mading Kueth, Nyanchin Mading Kueth, Nhial Mading Kueth, Nyalang Mading Kueth, Chudier Mading Kueth, Tesloach Mading Kueth, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

He is also survived by his brothers and sister whom he shares the same mother that include: Kuany Nyathak Yual, Nhial Nyathak Yual and Nyadholi Nyathak Yual. His sisters whom he shares the same father are Nyatora Kueth Chuol and Nyalual Kueth Chuol.

His brothers and sisters whom had passed on before him include, Puok Kueth Chuol, Ruach Kueth Chuol, Doyak Kueth Chuol, Tut Kueth Chuol, Kuon Kueth Chuol, Nyameer Kueth Chuol, Gatluok Nyathak Yual, Mai Nyathak Yual. 

He had a daughter born in 1982. Sadly, the little girl passed away at the tender age of 10.

Mading began his education in Akobo and was later on transferred to elementary shcool in old Pangak. He studied there for 2 years. Afterwards he was expelled from school in old Pangak in 1955 along with many other students because of riot which was induced by politics and unfair treatment of students.

Few years later, he went to Khartoum where he met with Paul Ruot Wichluoth, Abdalla Chuol Deng and others. Mading and the team held a meeting in Khartoum, their main topic of discussion was to figure out on how to start an armed rebellion in Upper Nile region with an objective that was based on self-determination for the people of Southern Sudan then. Moses and his colleagues decided to leave Khartoum for Southern Sudan for the purpose of going to organize an armed resistance against the Sudan government. He went to Upper Nile and proceeded his journey to Ethiopia and joined his team in Thiajak. From there, he was assigned by their leader Paul Ruot Wichluoth to go to Gambella and establish a diplomatic relations with Ethiopian government in the early 1960s. After completing his mission, he returned to his group and continued his journey back to Southern Sudan. Subsequently he was sent to recruit fighters in his hometown Akobo to join the rebellion against the Sudan government. He successfully managed to persuade many people who eventually joined the rebellion including an army officer Paul Awel who was stationed in Akobo at the time.

During his service in the struggle for the liberation of Southern Sudan, Mading fought against the Sudan’s government troops in the battle of Kolerow/Nanam river located in Murle land in 1963 where he narrowly escaped from being captured. In the battle of Kolerow, rebels soldiers lost many fighters that day including their leader Paul Ruot Wichluoth. Samuel Gai was wounded in his arm according to Moses.

Not to forget the fact that Moses Mading went to Pochalla and attended military training in the rebel camp which was led by Paul Nyingori. He participated in the battle of Pochalla alongside his fellow rebels fighters, Joshua Geng Khor, Ruathdel Rambang and many more, to mention the few. 

In1964, Moses Mading went to Congo with his comrades in struggle to fetch firearms. He came back from Congo and continued his fight to free the suppressed people of Southern Sudan from living free in their own homeland. 

Mading went to Ethiopia to continue his education from where he left it in old Pangak. He attended Rasgovena elementary school in Gambella from 1966-1969. After graduating from 8th grade, he was transferred to Dembi Dolo for further study in 9th grade because there was no secondary high school in Gambella at the time. Thereafter, he did not complete 9th grade, he dropped out and rejoined the movement in 1970. It’s worth to mention that he participated in the battle of Tharyier- Malual in late 1971. 

Moses Mading’s early career in public service as a police officer began after Addis Ababa peace agreement in January 1972, he was listed to Sudan police force during the integration of rebel fighters into Sudan army and police forces. Instead of being integrated into the Sudan army, his name appears on the police list which he did not expect. He had no other choice than joining the police force. He began the police academy training in May 1972 in Malakal. After successfully completing police training, he graduated from the academy and he was commissioned to a rank of warrant officer. He was deployed to serve in old Pangak from 1972-1974. Afterword, he was transferred to Renk town but did not last long enough. He returned to the headquarters in Malakal and he was selected to go to Khartoum to serve there but he turned it down because his objective was for Southern Sudan to be an independent state. As the consequence of refusing to go to Khartoum, he lost promotion to the rank of 2nd lieutenant and eventually he was transferred to Nasir town to serve there.

Mading’s dedication to public service in Sudan was evident during his tenure from 1972-1975. 

While serving in the government as a law enforcement officer, he and his fellow officers in the army and police were constantly working behind closed doors plotting a rebellion against the Arab controlled government. As a result of the scheme, the Akobo mutiny in 1975 led by Benson Kuany Latjor was unmask. Soon afterward the mutiny in Akobo, Moses left Nasir town with few people in July 1975 to join Benson Kuany Latjor, James Tap Lieh, Joshua Geng Khor and others in Itang, Ethiopia, just to mention the few that I can remember. Mading was one of the pioneers who established Bilpham as the main rebel military base in 1977 or 1978.

Mading was also one of the prominent commanders in Bilpham rebel military base who laid the foundation for struggle in Anyanya II. He left Bilpham in 1981with other commanders because of disagreement within themselves. Few months later, Moses Mading left Ethiopia and went back to Sudan in late 1981 to recruit fighters to join him and form his own rebel army. He joined forces with late commander Gatjiek Wie and returned back to Ethiopia in 1982 with few soldiers and many new recruits. 

Moses and Gatjiek established a new military training camp in Thow-Koat in Itang to avoid conflict with their former comrades whom were stationed in Bipham. Unfortunately, the rebel camps and the army they organized in Itang were seized from them by John Garang. Thow-Koat rebel training camp and other locations in Itang were later used by late John Garang and successfully formed the SPLM/SPLA which in the long run brought an independent of South Sudan. Before John Garang joined the rebellion in Ethiopia in 1983, commander Moses Mading and commander Gatjiek Wie were joined by their former comrades, Abdalla Chuol Deng, Lokurnyang and others in Itang. They were later on joined by Samuel Gai Tut.

In 1984, Moses decided to retire from rebel operations to look after his family in the aftermath of the disagreements which resulted in violent between John Garang’s group and Samuel Gai’s group in 1983. Garang asked Mading to join him but Mading turned it down. Garang sent Maker Deng Malok and Salva Kiir to Moses’s house in Itang several times to convince him to join them but he insisted not to do that because he was not happy about the way the movement was being handled and most importantly he was considering exiting rebel military for he had already played a significant role in the liberation as a rebel fighter for many years from 1963-1972 and 1975-1983. 

He eventually decided to serve God and joined the Seventh Day Adventist church in 1984 and later became a devoted member in the church. He chose to serve God instead of being a solider. Subsequently he was allegedly accused of working against SPLM/SPLA, the movement he helped organize. In the late 1984, he was arrested and falsely charged for violation of allegiance to the movement. He was taken to Bilpham were he was jailed for 2 years and severely tortured. With the intervention of the UNHCR, he was released in 1986 and he was handed over to Mr. Thokwas Pal who was at the time an Ethiopian government’s official and was also in charge of security in Gambella. Thokwas Pal went to Makuach town to receive Moses in order to take him to Gambella. Moses was immediately handed over to UNHCR field office in Gambella and he was granted a special protection by UNHCR. After few months under the protection of UNHCR in Gambella. He was transferred to Addis Ababa as an urban refugee.

His life’s journey took him to Addis Ababa in March 1987 where he became more deeply involved in church serving God. During his time in Addis Ababa, he decided to go back to school to complete his education where he left it. He attended Minillik Secondary High school in Addis Ababa and graduated with a diploma. He went on to attend the Seventh Day Adventist College in Koyara, Ethiopia. He also earned a certificate in Auto Mechanic in Addis Ababa. Nevertheless, he continued to build his life and contributed to his community as a leader in the church and helped students in Addis Ababa get scholarships channeled through ADRA (Adventist Development Relief Agency). Students were granted scholarships to study in Koyera Adventist College. As a result of his hard work, many students were able to attend college, high school and graduated with diplomas.

Moses Mading was a courageous fighter who fought many battles in Anyanya I and Anyanya II.

He served as a liberator in Anyanya I from 1963-1972. His service as a law enforcement officer from 1972-1975 was an outstanding. He was admired by many people in the police service and the communities he served. He continued his commitment to liberation during Anyanya II from 1975-1983. 

In 1995, he decided to seek for resettlement to the United States of America for a new life and an opportunities for his family. Moses relocated to the United States, arriving on March 29, 1995. He embraced his new life in the United States while holding a close ties to his tradition and knowing the values of his homeland. Moses Mading Kueth lived out his days in the USA, cherishing moments spent with his loved ones until his last breath on January 5, 2025. 

His legacy is deeply rooted in love for people, resilience and family. Its will continue to inspire generations for many years to come. 

May his soul rest in peace.