A life of purpose
From Malakal to Australia, from the liberation struggle to women’s peace advocacy, Aguil De’Chut Deng lived a life marked by courage, service and public responsibility.
Her story is one of conviction carried across borders — a life shaped by the struggle for freedom, by the demand that women be heard, and by a continued commitment to South Sudanese communities both at home and in the diaspora.
Her legacy
Aguil’s legacy is not only that she spoke for her people. It is that she kept returning to those whose voices were being ignored. She stood for women’s participation, community responsibility, cultural memory and the belief that young people should never be abandoned. The Foundation exists to carry those values forward through education, leadership, community support and connection across generations.
Her story
A life lived across South Sudan, Australia and the spaces where people were fighting to be seen, heard and included.
1967 — Malakal
Aguil De’Chut Deng was born on 11 August 1967 in Malakal, Upper Nile.
Her story began in a place that would become part of a much larger history of conflict, struggle and survival. Malakal was her first home — the beginning of a life that would later be shaped by national struggle, migration and service to others.
Liberation Struggle
During the second Sudanese civil war, Aguil became involved in the South Sudanese liberation struggle.
The source material records her involvement in the women’s battalions of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. This period formed a defining part of her life, grounding her in the reality of sacrifice, resistance and the collective struggle for South Sudanese freedom.
Advocacy in Australia
After coming to Australia, Aguil continued to advocate for the people of Sudan and South Sudan.
She established the Sudanese Australian International Activist Group, helping connect diaspora advocacy with the political realities unfolding at home. Even in migration, she did not step away from public responsibility. She continued to speak, organise and stand with her community.
Women Organising for Peace
Following South Sudan’s independence in 2011, Aguil founded South Sudanese Women Advocacy for Peace.
This reflected a consistent thread in her life: women had to be part of shaping the future of their country. Her work centred not only on peace, but on women’s participation, representation and voice in national life.
Her Story
Archival moments tracing Aguil’s life, advocacy and enduring connection to South Sudanese communities.
