Dr. John Gai Yoh, Founder and the Chairman of the Board, is a South Sudanese national, born in 1964, obtained BA in Political Science, MA in history from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon and PhD in International Politics from University of South Africa in Pretoria.

He has served in various capacities within South Sudan and abroad. His assignments included Presidential Advisor on Education Affairs, Minister of Education, Science & Technology and currently a member of Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA).

He also served as the first South Sudanese ambassador to the Republic of Turkey and was the head of Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) Southern African Liaison Office, Pretoria. The Mission was accredited to South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius and SADC Organization.

Dr. Yoh, has lectured in universities in Middle East and South Africa. He was Resident Research Associate at the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies, Amman, Jordan between 1996 and 2003 as well as lecturer at University of South Africa (UNISA) between 2003 and 2007.

Dr. Yoh has authored several works on Sudanese politics, regional and international organizations, colonial politics, Pan-Africanism, security, strategic studies, and African political conflicts.

Prof. Dr. Melha Rout Biel, is a member of CSPS Board of Directors, Principal of Bentiu University College of Petroleum and  a membership of the National Council for Higher Education. Dr. Biel has been the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Professor of Political Science at Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology from March 2011 to January 2019. Previously, he served as Director General for Administration and Finance in the Government of South Sudan. Biel has lectured in several Universities in Sudan, South Sudan and Germany, including the University of Erfurt and the University of Applied Sciences of Erfurt, Germany, where he taught International Relations, Social Work and Social Education.

He was also a Professor at the Center for Peace and Development Studies as well as taught courses at the College of Community Studies and Rural Development of the University of Juba where he offered undergraduate and postgraduate courses in areas of diplomacy, peace and conflict studies. He also lectured at the German Army Command Center in Potsdam with focus on deployment of the armed forces in the United Nations Missions/Operations. Biel was the Executive Director of CSPS from 2012 to 2016 and 2014 to the present. He is a led researcher and renowned writer. Some of his books are: African Kids: Between Warlords, Child Soldiers and Living on Streets, 2004, Elites and Power in South Sudan, 2017.

He has been a keynote speaker and panelist at several international high level conferences, such as the “Kampala Geopolitics Conference 2018”, organized by the French Embassy in Kampala and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, “Horn and East Africa Security conference” 2014 in Nairobi, organised by Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung, “India, South Africa and Africa in a Changing Global Landscape” 2011, organised by SAIIA, Wits University, RSA. He was also a keynote speakers at high level conference on Peace and Security in Africa, organized by Chinese Academic of Social Sciences, Beijing, 2019.

Dr. Biel holds several academic credentials including a PhD and Master degrees in Political Science from Friedrich-Schiller-University in Jena, Germany and a Bachelor in Social Sciences from the University of Applied Sciences in Jena, Germany. He speaks English, German, Arabic, Nuer, some Dinka and French, email:mbiel56@hotmail.com

Dr. Isaac Yak Repha Tutdel, a member of the CSPS Board of Directors, is resourceful with a record of constant achievements and extensive ranges of experiences gleaned from working with various public institutions, possessed a disciplined and organized approach towards work. He is team player, effective in communication in diverse working environments and possessed strong negotiation skills; displays initiatives, the ability to  identify and manage priorities and achieves in tight deadlines.

 

Dr. Tutdel earned a Ph.D. (Management) China University of Petroleum, Academy of Chinese Energy Strategy, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 2016; Master of Laws (LLM), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, 2010; Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of Juba, Khartoum, Sudan, 2005 and International Diploma in Human Resources (Personnel management), Cambridge International College, Khartoum, 2005.

He also undertook intensive courses and technical training and obtained a certificate from the school of Democracy, Khartoum, Sudan, 2005; certificate of conflict and conflict resolution, Khartoum, Sudan, 2005; certificate of Nonviolence, Khartoum, Sudan, 2004 and a certificate of Human Rights, Khartoum, Sudan, 2003.

 

Employment History

 

  • September 2017 to date: Contracts and Legal Manager, Dar Petroleum Operating Company, (DPOC).
  • February to August 2017: Senior Petroleum Legal Consultant, Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, Juba, South Sudan.
  • January 2013 to June 2014: Legal Adviser, Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Juba, South Sudan.
  • January 2012 to December 2014: Part-time lecturer, University of Juba, College of Law, teaching Petroleum and Environmental Laws. Juba, South Sudan.
  • January 2010 to January 2013: Legal Advisor, Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, Juba, South Sudan.
  • July 2011 to January 2013: member of South Sudan Crude Oil Marketing Team, Juba, South Sudan.
  • July 2010 to September 2012: Member of Government of Southern Sudan/Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (GoSS)/SPLM negotiating team with Government of Sudan/National Congress Party (GoS/NCP) (Economic/oil cluster).
  • June to January 2012: Lead Negotiator, South Sudan Petroleum Contracts (revised).
  • April to June 2011: participated in the drafting of the Petroleum Law for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, Juba, South Sudan.
  • August to September 2012: participated in the development of a Model Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) for Petroleum Sector, Juba, South Sudan.
  • February to April 2011: Deputy Head and director for research for the secretariat to the Technical Committee reviewing the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan, 2005, Juba, South Sudan.
  • May to December 2010: participated in the drafting of the Petroleum Policy of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, Juba, South Sudan.
  • March to October 2010: participated in the drafting of Mining Policy and Mining Law for the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, Juba, South Sudan.
  • January 2009, January 2010: Assistant Registrar, Directorate of Companies, NGOs, Associations, Societies, Business registration. Ministry of Legal Affairs and Constitutional Development, GoSS/Juba, South Sudan.
  • March 2007 to February 2008: Legal Advisor: Ministry of Housing, Lands and Public Utilities, Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) Juba, South Sudan.

Publications

Isaac Yak R. Tutdel (2010), Falling between the Cracks? Prospect for Environmental Litigation Arising from Oil Production in Southern Sudan: South African Institute for International Affairs. Occasional paper No. 61. Governance of Africa’s Resources Programme, May 2010

Isaac Yak R. Tutdel (2016), the fiscal provisions on existing legal frameworks governing the oil sector in the Republic of South Sudan: International Journal of Revenue Management. Int.J.Revenue Management, Vol.10.No.1.2017

Isaac Yak R. Tutdel (2016) DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF PRACTICES AND IMPACTS OF THE LOCAL/NATIONAL CONTENT POLICY OF PETROLEUM SECTOR (THE CASE STUDY OF SOUTH SUDAN):  Policy Analysis. South Sudan Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies.

Isaac Yak R. Tutdel (2017), South Sudan Petroleum Fiscal/Financial Model. PALGO JOURNAL OF EDUCATION RESEARCH. Vol. 5. Issue 1. 2017

Isaac Yak R. Tutdel (2017), The Effect of Stabilization Clause in Renegotiating South Sudan Petroleum Contracts. PALGO JOURNAL OF EDUCATION RESEARCH. Vol. 5. Issue 1. 2017

Isaac Yak R. Tutdel (2021), Africa Arise, (Book, available in Amazon). How African Countries have lost the Most out of Their National Resources. Published on 28th October, 2021. Xlibris, 844-714-8691.

Awards and Associations Membership

2001-2005:      Chairman of Law students (University of Juba), Khartoum

2002-2005:      Secretary of Academic Affairs and Scholarship Coordinator, Juba University Southern Sudan Students Association (JUSSA), Khartoum

2003-2004:      Chairman of Adok Students in the Sudanese Universities and Higher Institutes Association

Language:   English, spoken and written fluently. Arabic spoken fluent and other national Languages

Computer Skills: MS word, Excel, Power point, Internet, etc.

Email: isaacyakr.tutdel@yahoo.com.

John Ruach Jal Wang, a member of CSPS Board of Directors, a South Sudanese born in 1952, holds BA from University of Khartoum in Geography and Philosophy in 1974. He later obtained PGD from University of Birmingham, Institute of Local Government Studies, UK in 1981 and MPA from University of Liverpool, UK in 1982.  Mr. Jal is founder/Director of Global Vision Institution, UK. He has lectured in the University of Liverpool from 1996-1999. Mr. Jal Wang was Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in the Upper Nile Region, Sudan in 1984-85.

He also became Chief Executive Officer at the Regional Ministry of Administration, Police, Prison and Wildlife in Upper Nile Region from 1983-1984.

Although he did not submit it for completion, he was a PhD candidate with research topic in public Administration on “economic development in Africa with special reference to Sudan”.

He was a visiting scholar at Minnesota State University and Gustavos Collage, USA. He has taken several voluntary assignments in the US, UK and South Sudan with national and international organizations.

He was a member of Royal Institute of Public Administration (RIPA) and a member Review of African Political Economy (RAPE), UK.   He is a member of Board of Directors of National Credit Bank, President and Patron of Foundation for Youth Initiative organization and President of Safe the World Organization.

He is a member of the Governing Authority of South Sudan National Research Council, member of the Steering Committee of the National Dialogue and a consultant with several national and national organizations.

He was awarded a Good will Ambassador in state of Tennessee, Nashville, World Citizen Award by Team Integrity in Canada, Community Award by Liverpool Community Network, Adult Education Award by Liverpool city Council and Certificate of Recognition by Minnesota State University. johnjalwang@gmail.com