Prior to independence, he was President of the Government of Southern Sudan, as well as First Vice President of Sudan, from 2005 to 2011.
स्वतंत्रता से पहले, वह दक्षिणी सूडान सरकार के अध्यक्ष थे, साथ ही सूडान के पहले उपराष्ट्रपति 2005 से 2011 तक।