John Garang was a prominent Sudanese politician and military leader, best known for his role in the Second Sudanese Civil War. He was the founder of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and served as its leader, advocating for the rights of the marginalized southern Sudanese population. Garang's efforts were pivotal in the eventual signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which aimed to end decades of conflict in Sudan. Born on June 23, 1945, in Bor, South Sudan, Garang was educated in both Sudan and the United States, where he earned a Ph.D. in agricultural economics. He became a key figure in the struggle for South Sudan's autonomy and later its independence, which was achieved in 2011. Garang tragically died in a helicopter crash on July 30, 2005, just months after the peace agreement was signed.