Aldo Deng

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Aldo Deng is a former Sudanese politician and father of several professional basketball players.

A Christian and a member of the Dinka, Deng was elected to the Sudanese parliament in 1967. Between 1967 to 1989, he held positions of provincial governor, deputy speaker, minister of culture, minister of irrigration, minister of transportation, and deputy prime minister.[1]

In 1988, Deng sent his wife and children to Alexandria to avoid the escalating Second Sudanese Civil War. The next year, Omar al-Bashir led a military coup that took control of the government, and Deng was arrested at gunpoint, spending three months in prison. Omar al-Bashir released Deng so that Deng could negotiate with the Sudan People's Liberation Army of southern Sudan, but in 1993, Deng fled to England and claimed political asylum. Shortly afterwards, he travelled to Egypt to collect his family, and they settled in South Norwood, London.[2] He has since organized several charities to support women, children, and schools in Sudan.[1]

Deng is the father of 16 children, several of whom have become notable for their basketball prowess. Son Luol Deng attended Duke University currently plays for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association; sons Ajou Deng and Deng Deng have played in the British Basketball League; and daughter Arek Deng played for the University of Delaware.[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Aida Edemariam. "The tall guy". The Guardian. 26 August 2004. 6.
  2. ^ Sam Pilger. "The Brixton globetrotter". The Times. 21 August 2004. 34.


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