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Africano Mande Gedima who now serves as the Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority was the Deputy Commissioner General of what was first referred to as National Revenue Authority in South Sudan.^[1]^[2] He became the first Governor of Maridi State, in the Republic of South Sudan, on 24 December 2015.^[3] Gedima served as an active duty military officer in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and rose up to the rank of a Major General in what is now the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF).^[4]

Gedima started off in the Military by serving under the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) during the days when the SPLA fought for the liberation of Sudan and subsequently the independence of South Sudan.^[5] In the Military, Gedima played a wide range of activities ranging from instruction and combat planning to operations. Gedima, therefore, served in the SPLA in various capacities such as an instructor, Director of Military Research, Director of Planning and Strategy, Secretary for Military Transformation, and in other classified positions. While in the Military, Mande also served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Juba among others. Africano Mande basically contributed significantly to the ideas and frameworks aimed at transforming the SPLA into what had been referred to as "professional, accountable, affordable and operational effective military".^[6] Mande is known in the South Sudanese Military General Headquarters for his dictum that "the best soldier is one who talks about the next war that he is going to fight not about the war he has already fought."^[7]

Achievements

Gedima is a graduate of Naval Postgraduate School in the United States where he holds a master's degree in National Security Studies and also won the Hans Jones Award for excellence in thesis Research in Special Operations & Irregular Warfare or Security.^[8]

Upon his appointment as the Governor of the newly created Maridi State, South Sudan at a time was also faced with a raging civil war and a collapsing economy.^[9]

Challenges

Gedima survived multiple attacks to his life and personality ranging from attempted assassination to blackmailing and witch-hunting. Whenever asked about these attacks on his life and personality, he often said that: "unfortunately we all live on this very earth where every day that comes, unfolds new interests and burry our moralities. I know all those who have done all these attacks on me. They did these things to me because they have been driven by their selfish interests and not their moralities. Let them also wait for my interests to surface and they will pay the heaviest prices ever."^[10]

Passion

Africano Mande's passion has been in farming, wildlife conservation, Art and music, and poetry.^[11] Among some of the poems by Governor Africano Mande are: "Walking the Print of Lord", "Ana Zalaan", "The Colour Deserved", "The Sacred Children", "We the People", "My story", "The Warrior's Hymn", "Letter to my Dad", "Silent Departure", and "Woman's World". Mande has already published one book titled "Ana Zalan" and he has also produced one (1) unpublished book manuscripts which he hopes to publish in the future.^[11] Africano Mande's dedication to his Country and to Maridi State, encouraged his family members and close friends to establish the Africano Mande Foundation (AMF) in 2018, which to them is strictly a non-political and non-governmental Foundation named after Gedima, the first Governor of Maridi State. As its name suggests, the Foundation is a legacy Foundation which was founded by the family of Africano Mande Gedima in order to champion his philosophy, ideals, and vision through the philanthropic and non-governmental tracks.^[12]

References

^ "New tax collector promises to be a 'disciplined' boss". Eye Radio. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
^ "NRA and State Governments Conclude Conference with Commitments to Strengthen Tax Administration | United Nations Development Programme". UNDP. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
^ Mayom, Jok. "Kiir appoints Governors of 28 newly created States". gurtong.net. gurtong. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
^ Confidential, Africa. "South Sudan: The fight moves south". africa-confidential.com. Africa Confidential. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
^ LeRiche, Matthew (2013). South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. vii. ISBN 978-0199333400.
^ SPLA White Paper on Defence. Juba: The Committee of the SPLA White Paper on Defence. June 2008. pp. 2, 9.
^ Liberator, Journal (July 2009). "Presentation on SPLA Transformation Strategies". No. 6. SPLA. SPLA GHQs.
^ Honegger, Barbara. "Award Announcement". www.nps.edu. NPS. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
^ Anderson, Mark (22 May 2015). "South Sudan close to economic collapse as famine fears resurface". www.theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
^ SSBC, South Sudan (29 July 2016). "Television and Radio Interview". No. 18. SSBC. South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
^ ^a ^b SSBC, South Sudan (5 November 2019). "Television interview with Africano Mande". SSBC.
^ "Interview with Africano Mande's son Mande Biko". SSBC. 20 February 2010.

[1] "New tax collector promises to be a 'disciplined' boss". Eye Radio. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2022.

[2] "NRA and State Governments Conclude Conference with Commitments to Strengthen Tax Administration | United Nations Development Programme". UNDP. Retrieved 10 October 2022.

[Kiir_appoints_Governors_of_28_newly_created_States-3] Mayom, Jok. "Kiir appoints Governors of 28 newly created States". gurtong.net. gurtong. Retrieved 2 May 2020.

[The_fight_moves_south-4] Confidential, Africa. "South Sudan: The fight moves south". africa-confidential.com. Africa Confidential. Retrieved 2 May 2020.

[South_Sudan:_From_Revolution_to_Independence-5] LeRiche, Matthew (2013). South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. vii. ISBN 978-0199333400.

[SPLA_White_Paper_on_Defence-6] SPLA White Paper on Defence. Juba: The Committee of the SPLA White Paper on Defence. June 2008. pp. 2, 9.

[Statement_by_Col._Africano_Mande-7] Liberator, Journal (July 2009). "Presentation on SPLA Transformation Strategies". No. 6. SPLA. SPLA GHQs.

[Col._Africano_Mande_received_NPS_Award-8] Honegger, Barbara. "Award Announcement". www.nps.edu. NPS. Retrieved 3 May 2020.

[South_Sudan_civil_war-9] Anderson, Mark (22 May 2015). "South Sudan close to economic collapse as famine fears resurface". www.theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 3 May 2020.

[Africano_Mande_in_a_Television_and_Radio_Interview-10] SSBC, South Sudan (29 July 2016). "Television and Radio Interview". No. 18. SSBC. South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 May 2020.

[Africano_Mande's_Interview-11] SSBC, South Sudan (5 November 2019). "Television interview with Africano Mande". SSBC.

[Television_Interview_with_Mande_Biko_Africano-12] "Interview with Africano Mande's son Mande Biko". SSBC. 20 February 2010.

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+'''Africano Mande Gedima''' who now serves as the Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority was the Deputy Commissioner General of what was first referred to as National Revenue Authority in [[South Sudan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-23 |title=New tax collector promises to be a 'disciplined' boss |url=https://www.eyeradio.org/new-tax-collector-promises-to-be-a-disciplined-boss/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=Eye Radio |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NRA and State Governments Conclude Conference with Commitments to Strengthen Tax Administration {{!}} United Nations Development Programme |url=https://www.undp.org/south-sudan/press-releases/nra-and-state-governments-conclude-conference-commitments-strengthen-tax-administration |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=UNDP |language=en}}</ref> He became the first Governor of Maridi State, in the Republic of South Sudan, on 24 December 2015.<ref name="Kiir appoints Governors of 28 newly created States">{{cite web |last1=Mayom |first1=Jok |title=Kiir appoints Governors of 28 newly created States |url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/18209/Kiir-Appoints-Governors-Of-28-Newly-Created-States.aspx |website=gurtong.net |publisher=gurtong |accessdate=2 May 2020}}</ref>
-}}
-'''Africano Mande Gedima''' became the first Governor of Maridi State, in the Republic of South Sudan on 24 December 2015.<ref name="Kiir appoints Governors of 28 newly created States">{{cite web |last1=Mayom |first1=Jok |title=Kiir appoints Governors of 28 newly created States |url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/18209/Kiir-Appoints-Governors-Of-28-Newly-Created-States.aspx |website=gurtong.net |publisher=gurtong |accessdate=May 2, 2020}}</ref> Africano Mande who hails from Maridi County is a Baka by tribe belonging to the Mukú clan.
+Gedima served as an active duty military officer in the [[Sudan People's Liberation Army]] (SPLA) and rose up to the rank of a Major General in what is now the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF).<ref name="The fight moves south">{{cite web |last1=Confidential |first1=Africa |title=South Sudan: The fight moves south |url=https://www.africa-confidential.com/article-preview/id/11515/The_fight_moves_south |website=africa-confidential.com |publisher=Africa Confidential |accessdate=2 May 2020}}</ref>
+Gedima started off in the Military by serving under the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) during the days when the SPLA fought for the liberation of Sudan and subsequently the independence of South Sudan.<ref name="South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence">{{cite book |last1=LeRiche |first1=Matthew |title=South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0199333400 |page=vii }}</ref> In the Military, Gedima played a wide range of activities ranging from instruction and combat planning to operations. Gedima, therefore, served in the SPLA in various capacities such as an instructor, Director of Military Research, Director of Planning and Strategy, Secretary for Military Transformation, and in other classified positions. While in the Military,  Mande also served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Juba among others. Africano Mande basically contributed significantly to the ideas and frameworks aimed at transforming the SPLA into what had been referred to as "professional, accountable, affordable and operational effective military".<ref name="SPLA White Paper on Defence">{{cite book |title=SPLA White Paper on Defence |date=June 2008 |publisher=The Committee of the SPLA White Paper on Defence |location=Juba |pages=2, 9}}</ref> Mande is known in the South Sudanese Military General Headquarters for his dictum that "the best soldier is one who talks about the next war that he is going to fight not about the war he has already fought."<ref name="Statement by Col. Africano Mande">{{cite news |last1=Liberator |first1=Journal |title=Presentation on SPLA Transformation Strategies |agency=SPLA GHQs |issue=6 |publisher=SPLA |date=July 2009}}</ref>
-Africano Mande served as an active duty Colonel and was later promoted to the rank of a Brigadier General in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (Now South Sudan Peoples Defence Force) until his appointment as Governor on 24 December 2015.<ref name="The fight moves south">{{cite web |last1=Confidential |first1=Africa |title=South Sudan: The fight moves south |url=https://www.africa-confidential.com/article-preview/id/11515/The_fight_moves_south |website=africa-confidential.com |publisher=Africa Confidential |accessdate=May 2, 2020}}</ref>
-== Early Life ==
-Africano Mande was born to the late John Mande Gedima and to the late Mama Gister Asopa who subsequently migrated to the United States of America and took up citizenship in the USA along with all of Africano’s brothers and sisters except Africano Mande.
-Africano Mande started off in the Military by serving under the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) during the days when the SPLA fought for the liberation of Sudan and subsequently the independence of South Sudan.<ref name="South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence">{{cite book |last1=LeRiche |first1=Matthew |title=South Sudan: From Revolution to Independence |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0199333400 |page=vii |url=https://www.amazon.com/South-Sudan-Independence-Matthew-Arnold/dp/0199333408 |accessdate=May 2, 2020}}</ref>
-While in the Military, Africano Mande played a wide range of activities ranging from instruction and combat planning to operations. Africano Mande, therefore, served in the SPLA in various capacities such as an instructor, Director of Military Research, Director of Planning and Strategy, Secretary for Military Transformation, and in other classified positions.
-While in the Military, Africano Mande also served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Juba among others. Africano Mande basically contributed significantly to the ideas and frameworks aimed at transforming the SPLA into what had been referred to as "professional, accountable, affordable and operational effective military."<ref name="SPLA White Paper on Defence">{{cite book |title=SPLA White Paper on Defence |date=June 2008 |publisher=The Committee of the SPLA White Paper on Defence |location=Juba |pages=2,9}}</ref>
 == Achievements ==
-Mande is known in the South Sudanese Military General Headquarters for his dictum that "the best soldier is one who talks about the next war that he is going to fight not about the war he has already fought."<ref name="Statement by Col. Africano Mande">{{cite news |last1=Liberator |first1=Journal |title=Presentation on SPLA Transformation Strategies |agency=SPLA GHQs |issue=6 |publisher=SPLA |date=July 2009}}</ref>
+Gedima is a graduate of [[Naval Postgraduate School]] in the United States where he holds a master's degree in National Security Studies and also won the Hans Jones Award for excellence in thesis Research in Special Operations & Irregular Warfare or Security.<ref name="Col. Africano Mande received NPS Award">{{cite web |last1=Honegger |first1=Barbara |title=Award Announcement |url=https://web.nps.edu/About/News/CNO-Roughead-Keynotes-Winter-Graduation-Ceremonies.html |website=www.nps.edu |publisher=NPS |accessdate=3 May 2020}}</ref>
-Governor Africano Mande holds a Master’s Degree in National Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California where he also won the Hans Jones Award for excellence in thesis Research in Special Operations & Irregular Warfare or Security.<ref name="Col. Africano Mande received NPS Award">{{cite web |last1=Honegger |first1=Barbara |title=Award Announcement |url=https://web.nps.edu/About/News/CNO-Roughead-Keynotes-Winter-Graduation-Ceremonies.html |website=www.nps.edu |publisher=NPS |accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref>
-Governor Africano Mande also holds a BA (Hons.) in International Relations from the United States International University – Africa.
-In addition to the various Military training, Governor Africano Mande also attended other training to include training at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria (South Africa), International Institute for Humanitarian Law in San Remo (Italy) to mention but a few.
-Upon his appointment as the Governor of the newly created Maridi State, South Sudan at a time was also faced with a raging civil war and a collapsing economy.<ref name="South Sudan civil war">{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Mark |title=South Sudan close to economic collapse as famine fears resurface |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/may/22/south-sudan-conflict-economic-collapse-famine-fears |website=www.theguardian.com |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref>
-Maridi State, in particular, was badly hit by the civil unrest in addition to the hitches and glitches by some political saboteurs who were also said to be mentally below par such as Peter Beshir Bindi, James Saki Palaoko and James Kabila, etc.
-However, Governor Africano Mande charted his way through and not only embarked on the establishment of State institutions such as the State Assembly, State Executive, Justice system, Public Services, and the law enforcement, he also set out a well-spelled vision for Maridi State which is: "a peaceful, secured, healthy, skillful, productive, informed, cultured, and ultimately economically prospered Maridi State with good accessibility and whose populations are availed access to social services and opportunities to become innovative and progressive."
-In order to work towards achieving this vision, Governor Africano Mande set out eight (8) sector-specific policy priorities that form Maridi State Government’s programs for implementation.
-Within these sector-specific priorities, security, peace, Rule of Law, the establishment of the new counties, enhanced capacities for production and for economic rehabilitation and growth, building capacity to deliver physical infrastructural services remain high on the agenda of the Government of Maridi State.
-With the huge economic challenges that South Sudan went through, Governor Africano Mande began preaching that: "We must do more with less". Within two years, Maridi State became a progressive and most stable and peaceful state in the Republic of South Sudan.
-Agriculture production increased, State Government revenue increased and social services improved.
-Africano Mande has survived multiple attacks to his life and personality ranging from attempted assassination to blackmailing and witch-hunting.
-Whenever asked about these attacks on his life and personality, he often said that: "unfortunately we all live on this very earth where every day that comes unfolds new interests and burry our moralities. I know all those who have done all these are attacks on me and they did these things to me because there have been driven by their selfish interests, not their moralities.
-Let them wait for my interest to the surface also and they will pay the heaviest prices ever."<ref name="Africano Mande in a Television and Radio Interview">{{cite news |last1=SSBC |first1=South Sudan |title=Television and Radio Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmb6RUVYG1Q |accessdate=May 4, 2020 |agency=South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation |issue=18 |publisher=SSBC |date=July 29, 2016}}</ref> Africano Mande has however remained calm, composed and steady and often acting as if nothing happened to the extent of even interacting and helping out the very perpetrators.
-Nevertheless, Africano Mande is said to be forgiving but not forgetful. Africano Mande has been described by his closest friends that is smart in hitting back at his enemies when they least expect.
-Africano Mande’s passion has been in farming, wildlife conservation, Art and music, and poetry.<ref name="Africano Mande's Interview">{{cite news |last1=SSBC |first1=South Sudan |title=Television interview with Africano Mande |agency=SSBC |date=November 5, 2019}}</ref> Among some of the poems by Governor Africano Mande are: "Walking the Print of Lord", "Ana Zalaan", "The Colour Deserved", "The Sacred Children", "We the People", "My story", "The Warrior’s Hymn", "Letter to my Dad", "Silent Departure", and "Woman’s World".
-Mande has also produced two (2) unpublished book manuscripts which he hopes to publish in the future.<ref name="Africano Mande's Interview" /> Mande's dedication to his Country and to Maridi State encouraged his brothers and sisters to establish the Africano Mande Foundation (AMF) which to them is strictly a non-political and non-governmental Foundation named after Africano Mande Gedima, the first Governor of Maridi State.
+Upon his appointment as the Governor of the newly created [[Maridi State]], [[South Sudan]] at a time was also faced with a raging civil war and a collapsing economy.<ref name="South Sudan civil war">{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Mark |title=South Sudan close to economic collapse as famine fears resurface |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/may/22/south-sudan-conflict-economic-collapse-famine-fears |website=www.theguardian.com |date=22 May 2015 |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |accessdate=3 May 2020}}</ref>
-As its name suggests, the Foundation is a legacy Foundation which was founded by the family of Africano Mande Gedima in order to champion his philosophy, ideals, and vision through the philanthropic and non-governmental tracks.<ref name="Television Interview with Mande Biko Africano">{{cite news |title=Interview with Africano Mande's son Mande Biko |agency=SSBC |date=February 20, 2010}}</ref>
+[[File:Gov. Africano Mande and VP Wani Igga in Maridi State.jpg|thumb|Gov. Africano Mande and VP Wani Igga in Maridi State]]
+== Challenges ==
-Despite Africano Mande’s commitment to serving his country, South Sudan, he has been a family man. Africano Mande has been married to Joyce Tindilo and has five children whom Africano often urged to put God first before anything else.
+Gedima survived multiple attacks to his life and personality ranging from attempted assassination to blackmailing and witch-hunting. Whenever asked about these attacks on his life and personality, he often said that: "unfortunately we all live on this very earth where every day that comes, unfolds new interests and burry our moralities. I know all those who have done all these attacks on me. They did these things to me because they have been driven by their selfish interests and not their moralities. Let them also wait for my interests to surface and they will pay the heaviest prices ever."<ref name="Africano Mande in a Television and Radio Interview">{{cite news |last1=SSBC |first1=South Sudan |title=Television and Radio Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmb6RUVYG1Q |accessdate=4 May 2020 |agency=South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation |issue=18 |publisher=SSBC |date=29 July 2016}}</ref>
+== Passion ==
-Mande who has been a disciplinarian in the family has managed to create a very strong network of family members and relatives who often come together at least once every year in Africano’s home in Maridi town.
+Africano Mande's passion has been in farming, wildlife conservation, Art and music, and poetry.<ref name="Africano Mande's Interview">{{cite news |last1=SSBC |first1=South Sudan |title=Television interview with Africano Mande |agency=SSBC |date=5 November 2019}}</ref> Among some of the poems by Governor Africano Mande are: "Walking the Print of Lord", "Ana Zalaan", "The Colour Deserved", "The Sacred Children", "We the People", "My story", "The Warrior's Hymn", "Letter to my Dad", "Silent Departure", and "Woman's World". Mande has already published one book titled "Ana Zalan" and he has also produced one (1) unpublished book manuscripts which he hopes to publish in the future.<ref name="Africano Mande's Interview" />
+Africano Mande's dedication to his Country and to Maridi State, encouraged his family members and close friends to establish the Africano Mande Foundation (AMF) in 2018, which to them is strictly a non-political and non-governmental Foundation named after Gedima, the first Governor of [[Maridi State]]. As its name suggests, the Foundation is a legacy Foundation which was founded by the family of Africano Mande Gedima in order to champion his philosophy, ideals, and vision through the philanthropic and non-governmental tracks.<ref name="Television Interview with Mande Biko Africano">{{cite news |title=Interview with Africano Mande's son Mande Biko |agency=SSBC |date=20 February 2010}}</ref>
 == References ==
 {{reflist}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Mande, Africano}}
 [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
 [[Category:Living people]]