What is Dr. Koang Tutlam Dung Preaching in the United States of America?

Human perceptions differ from person to person in psychological explanation theory. For example, two people who are exposed to seeing half a glass of water at the same time can give different explanations of their view points. You might not agree with me in questioning Dr. Koang Tutlam Dung’s work performance creditability he has achieved in his life in Ethiopia Government, which could be seen as benefits to the people of Gambella. But if you dig a little bit deeper on his true background, your understanding will give you a different result. In many times, when I come across the comments on the Nuer Community International Forum (NCIF) about Dr. Koang’s speech in these two States, Minnesota and Tennessee, it makes me question Dr. Koang’s motive for the public. Although some of us were welcoming of Dr. Koang Dung, at least 60% of Gambelians in Diaspora could not welcome someone like Dr. Koang, whose goal is to destroy the unity of Nuer Community in Gambella.

It would be a wonderful idea for those who did not hear Dr. Koang’s speech for the very first time, since he was appointed as Ambassador and later foreign affairs officer in Addis Ababa. Dr. Koang’s speeches at the meetings of Tennessee and Mankato, Minnesota did not provide any motive points that could convince the audiences about what he really wanted to achieve in the United States of America. His speech in these two States did not clarify what is role in Ethiopia Federal Government that benefits Gambella in particular. While, serviced in the most respectful posts a good citizen can hold, Dr. Koang never hosted any public meeting with the people he represents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia let alone the Gambella Community that happens to be his home town he grew up in.

Our community is concerning about several things of Dr. Koang’s weakness. Dr. Koang has been an obstructionist in Gambella policies. For example, when three parties emerged into one party in Gambella by the common sense that unity is the only way would bring development into the region. Dr. Koang was an obstacle on that moved and refused to join the coalition parties. Dr. Koang started rejecting that unity and went in opposite direction to split the party by recruiting individuals against the Nuer leadership. Until most people pragmatist that Dr. Koang’s leadership in Gambella policies, particularly Nuer Zone may not benefit anyone. Therefore, a good leader needs to have an exemplary character in his own community, but Dr. Koang has none of these characteristics. It is utmost importance that a leader is trustworthy to lead others, but Dr. Koang never trusts in the Gambella policies.

Common points about Koang Dung’s roles in the region

Dr. Koang Tutlam Dung

Gambella Region has a lot of concerns to tell about Dr. Koang’s weakness in live. Dr. Koang has been an obstructionist in any policy that is mended to serve the people of Gambella. For instance, when three parties emerged together to form one party in 2001 EC, Gambella People Unity Democratic Movement (GPUDM) in Gambella by simple common sense that unity could be the only way that would bring development into the region, Koang became an obstacle on that decision. To make the matter worst, he did not only refuse to join the GPUDM party, but also mobilized others against the new idea. He also went in a very far opposite direction to split the party into many by recruiting individuals against the Nuer leadership in the region. Until then, majority of people in Gambella realized that Dr. Koang’s leadership Style in Gambella politic, particularly in Nuer Zone would not benefit anyone other than himself. In God’s given wisdom, any leader needs to have an exemplary character in his own community in order to survive in politic, but Dr. Koang has none of these characteristic approaches. It is utmost importance that a leader can be trustworthy to lead others, but Dr. Koang has never been trusted in the Gambella’s political spectrum.

Dr. Koang’s background beyond the time of current regime

One may wonder when and how Dr. Koang Tutlam Dung got this golden opportunity to reach this stage of leadership in Ethiopia Government. Was that his education background achievement, or was that his work performance from the State level that pushed him that far? Dr. Koang had never been in Gambella State politic nor served in federal government before the dictator regime was ousted from power by the current government the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in 1991.  Koang Dung never hosted any position in Gambella cabinet before he became ambassador to Ghana and Japan.

Fortunately, he got an opportunity to become an Ambassador to these two countries in a way that surprised many Nuers in the region. But such a trick was lately discovered that he used his time and energy to accuse the Gambella regional officials to the federal security personnel illegally without logical reasons. This gained him trust because some of the federal officials then knew very little about the Gambella internal security in earliest of their new transitional Government. Meanwhile, at the time he was appointed to the foreign affairs office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Koang Tutlam Dung became an anti- current Nuer leadership of Gambella region; he has been falsely claimed to the Federal government that Jikow and Lare Waredas have been misleading Akobo Wareda in the region, while this Wareda (Akobo) has many seats in the State that is even known to those who do not have reason to pay attention to the region’s Parliament formation system.

Dr. Koang Dung: one of the most disturbing things that disappointed many in the Gambella region about Dr. Koang’s unacceptable behavior.  He took another step by opposing the Nuer resettlement program that was agreed by all Nuer responsible leaders, during the general assembly meeting held in the Nuer Zone in 2001 EC. In that meeting almost 95% of Gambella officials with exception of Dr. Koang and his followers agreed to resettle all the people who used to reside in Ochom, Itang and Puldeng areas. These Communities were displaced by different external and internal problems within the region, and the goal in that meeting was to move them back in their perspective locations, where by the Government could find ways to deliver them a good services, and all children would have an access to their nearest schools without long walks; and access to pure drinking water as well as close health care clinics.

Dr. Koang Dung has been trying everything he could after the death of late Ato LT. Governor Gach Reath to destabilize the region like Mangestu Haile Mariam, the worst dictator leader ever seen. I do believe that, if this ninety-five percent (95%) of the strategy plans were not implemented by the regional Lieutenant Governor Ato Gonar Yer Zuor, Dr. Koang would not become as the most hostile obstacle to these plans. His most important goal is to block any development plan, by using his propaganda strategy to the federal government but, he failed miserably. Koang Dung’s made more than one serious crimes, he sent his propaganda agendas everywhere in the region and the nation Capital, including College students, public school Students as well as churches congregations.

Thus, he preached this divisive tone to young Nuer that other waredas were misleading Akobo Wareda, which in turn made majority overreacted beyond period frame he never thought before. In other hand, Dr. Koang has been a restless problem maker that led him to many troubles. For example, during the election of 1997 EC (2005), Dr. Koang joined the opposition party, Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), according to this news. “The massive layoffs at foreign Ministry: several diplomats were layoffs included three full fledged ambassadors. Among those who have been fired by the federal government of Ethiopia are Dr. Koang Dung, Yoseph (Joseph) Kumalo, and Ato Ofato Alew. This action came into the federal level when Prime Ministry office learned that these ambassadors including Dr. Koang Tutlam Dung, a former ambassador to Japan, Ato Yoseph kumalo, former ambassador to Sudan and Ato Ofato Alew, former ambassador to Kenya.” These ministries were ties or sympathies with opposition party the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) (source Ethiopia news 2006).

In conclusion:

Base on his chance to work for Federal Government, everyone would expect Dr. Koang to be good leader or to help bring development into the Gambella region, but he has been standing against any development plan. He is also rejected by all five tribes of Gambella now, including central committee of the join party, Gambella People Unity Development Movement (GPUDM). While, Dr. Koang has been claiming of his own Wareda unfair treatment, many within his own Wareda, Akobo do confuse often to hear such talks that Akobo has no enough seats in the Gambella government.

In the reality Akobo Wareda has two representatives in the Gambella Cabinet excluding Koang Dung’s position as foreign affairs, and also other waredas have two representatives in the Cabinet excluding Lt. Governor’s Seat. For all Gambelian Community (ies) in Diasporas or around the world, let us understand that Dr. Koang Tutlam’s recent mission trip to the United States of America is not for Gambelian Nuers as most of you might think about; instead his trip is for his immediate community. He made such a decision to raise some funds of destruction the next upcoming 2010 Ethiopia Parliamentary election. Dr. Koang is a destructive creature of Nuer success in Gambella ever born in the Region and his divisive behavior will no longer be tolerated, especially in the Nuer Zone.

Duach R. Mach lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota (U.S.A). He can be reached at: