Ann Itto Leonardo
{{Short description|South Sudanese politician}}
File:Ann Itto, Landwirtschaftsministerin im Südsudan.jpg
Ann Itto Leonardo is a South Sudanese politician. She was previously the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry for the South Sundanese government, as well as the acting secretary-general of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
Education career
In 1978, she joined the University of Juba as a teaching assistant. After receiving a scholarship, she attended Kansas State University in the United States where she studied for her doctorate. Leonardo returned to the University of Juba afterwards where she took up a lecturing post. In 1994, she joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and began to pursue a career in politics.{{cite book|last1=Kuyok|first1=Kuyok Abol|title=South Sudan: The Notable Firsts|date=2015|publisher=Authorhouse|isbn=978-1-50494-345-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=622LCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT622}}
Political career
Ann Itto Leonardo was named the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry within the Cabinet of South Sudan on 10 July 2011.{{cite web|url=http://sosanews.com/2011/07/13/the-newly-appointed-ministers-or-caretakers/|title=The Newly Appointed Ministers|date=10 July 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108235215/http://sosanews.com/2011/07/13/the-newly-appointed-ministers-or-caretakers/ |archivedate=November 8, 2011}} Prior to the referendum on self determination, she stressed the need for food security.{{cite news|last1=Uma|first1=Julius N.|title=Sudan's referendum without food security is meaningless - Itto|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article36216|accessdate=19 November 2016|work=Sudan Tribune|date=8 September 2010|archive-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516191842/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article36216|url-status=dead}} She subsequently announced plans in late 2011 to set up a national agricultural bank, and to provide technical support to the 90 of the population who are involved in small-scale farming.{{cite news|last1=Uma|first1=Julius N.|title=South Sudan plans to form own agricultural bank|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-plans-to-form-own,38247|accessdate=19 November 2016|work=Sudan Tribune|date=10 March 2011|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322164909/http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-plans-to-form-own,38247|url-status=dead}}
During 2014–15, she was named as the acting secretary-general of the SPLM. During this time she commended the work undertaken to launch a new blood bank in Wau.{{cite news|title=South Sudan: People of Bahr El Ghazal Commended for Hard Work|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201505200453.html|accessdate=19 November 2016|work=AllAfrica|date=15 July 2014}} In November 2015, she was replaced in that position by Jemma Nunu Kumba.{{cite web|title=SPLM New Deputy Secretary General Sworn In Office|url=http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/17894/SPLMs-New-Deputy-Secretary-General-Sworn-In-Office.aspx|publisher=Gurtong|accessdate=19 November 2016|date=15 November 2015}}
She has been critical of the lack of involvement of women in the government of South Sudan in 2014, and that political progress was being undermined by the constant conflict, saying "We could lose all the gains we have made, women need to lead the change we want to see".{{cite news|last1=Dudman|first1=Jane|title=Women want to be decision-makers about peace, not passive victims of war|url=https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2014/jul/02/woman-government-rwanda-genocide-peace|accessdate=19 November 2016|work=The Guardian|date=2 July 2014}} In 2016, she was named as the advisor for agriculture and food security to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit.{{cite news|title=South Sudan's Kiir appoints 10 top advisors|url=https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/south-sudans-kiir-appoints-10-top-advisors|accessdate=19 November 2016|work=Radio Tamazuj|date=5 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120161645/https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/south-sudans-kiir-appoints-10-top-advisors|archive-date=20 November 2016|url-status=dead}}
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071217130656/http://goss.org/ Website of Government of South Sudan]
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Category:Government ministers of South Sudan
Category:21st-century South Sudanese women politicians
Category:21st-century South Sudanese politicians