BIOGRAPHY OF LATE RETIRED POLICE BRIGADIER GENERAL CAPTAIN MATHEW MADING RIAK AMOCPEI

 Authored by Lt. General Police Richard Makur Athorbei Apar

15 January 2002

 

Posted by Ater Yuot Riak

26 March 2026 

 

Late Police Brigadier Captain Mading Riak Amocpei’s funeral rites took place on Friday, 15 January 2002, at his brother Henry Yuot Riak’s house in Kalakala, Khartoum State. His relatives, colleagues, friends, and acquaintances in Khartoum attended a large gathering. Speeches honouring his life and condolences from his relatives and friends were delivered. The audience was impressed by the richness of his life. Late Mathew Mading Riak was born around 1936 in Panapek. He died on 20 July 2001 at Agany village, Yirol Province, Lakes State, after a long illness. Captain Mathew Mading Riak died as a retired Police Brigadier.

Panapek had been without a school since 1927, when Depor School was closed by missionaries and relocated to Akot C.M.S. Elementary School. In 1946, Mayomchuei Bush School was opened after a long period without any schools in Panapek. Late Mathew Mading Riak, Macar Ajuang, Aleth Garang, Anhiem Maker Thon, and others began their education there. Schools and other public services, such as health centres and veterinary stations, were usually situated near the residence of the local court president for security and advice. Consequently, Mayomcuei Bush School was established, where Macar Ijong Alam, President of the Panapek Regional Court, was based.

In 1948, he passed the Elementary School Entrance Examination for the third year at Akot C.M.S. Elementary School. Dr Richard Hassan Kalamsakit was a witness when Riak Amocpei brought him to school. Mathew Mading Riak made acquaintances and formed lifelong friendships with Dr Hassan and Gordon Abyei Makuac, both in the senior class, as well as with colleagues such as the late Rin Bol, Ambrose Ahang Beny, Aggrey Mith, Manasseh Ruei, and others. 

In 1950, he was admitted to Nugent Intermediate School at Loka along with colleagues, including the late Henry Rin Bol and Ambrose Ahang Beny. He also met many other students from various C.M.S. Elementary schools, such as Acol de Dut, Gaiyo, Willow Gwolo, Bullen Gwague, Emanuel Laila, the late Aquila Manyuon, and Daneil Deng Kur, among others. The author of this brief biography met him there in 1952. At Loka, he became well known socially across the school, recognised for his engaging conversations and for protecting younger boys—qualities he maintained throughout his life.

Late Mathew Mading Riak passed the intermediate school entrance exam for Rumbek Secondary School in 1953, joined in 1954, and graduated in 1959. Besides his colleagues from Loka Intermediate schools, he met many new classmates from other intermediate schools who had taken the same examinations. They included Martin Marial Takpiny, John Rong, the late Dr Lawrence Wol Wol, Thomas Kume, Ezera Aleer, Dr Justin Yac, Dr Manoa Pabek, George Moras, and others. At Rumbek Secondary School, he was remembered for two things: his love of military activities and bicycle riding.

In 1957, he organised a concert titled "WAR" where he played the role of the Commander-in-Chief in the play. The entire school was amazed and enjoyed the concert. It became the talk of the school after that Christmas performance, as was admitted. During the 1957 cadet training camp for all secondary schools in Sabaloka, he composed an English marching song for Rumbek Secondary School cadets to sing. He began to consider joining a military college after completing secondary school. Returning to Rumbek from the north in 1958, he formed a student bicycle-riding group that rode into Agar village on weekends or holidays. Riding in large numbers by educated youth was an attraction to the people of Agar village, as bicycles were rare in those days. When he finished secondary school in 1959, he aspired to join the military college but was unable to find a decision-maker to support him. Frustrated, he abandoned the plan and decided to visit his sister Ajak Riak in Bor, where she was married to Daniel Deng Kuai.

In Bor, he decided to go to Ethiopia in search of greener pastures for further education. He left through Gambella. In Ethiopia, he met some Nuer and Anyuak boys and went to Addis Ababa. They lived together in a group. While there, the group requested a meeting with Emperor Heilla Salasei. The request was granted. They met the Emperor, who asked each of them what they wanted. Mathew Mading was asked what he wanted. He said he would like to join the military Air Force College. When the Emperor asked why he wanted the Air Force, he said he wanted to fight a war in the air. The Emperor was impressed by his answer, and he laughed. It was a wonder for the Emperor to laugh in public. That surprised the Ethiopians, how that boy amused the Emperor to laugh. The Emperor ordered that he be taken to air force training immediately.

Near the end of the training, the Ethiopian Nuer and Anuak envied Mathew Mading for his flying skills. They informed the authorities that he was not an Ethiopian but a Dinka from the Sudan. Ethiopia did not have a Dinka tribe. He was discontinued and recommended to the Sudanese Embassy in Addis Ababa for his new skills as a fighter pilot. When General Hassen El Bashir, the Sudanese defence minister, visited Ethiopia, he was told of a Sudanese who had been trained as an Air Force pilot but was dropped because he was Sudanese. General Hassen El Bashir interviewed him. General El Bashir told him to go back to Sudan and that he would be enrolled in the Military College to graduate as a military officer. He would be shifted to the Air Force thereafter. Because he loved Sudan and the military, he accepted the offer. He came back to the Sudan in 1962 to follow up on the offer. The offer did not materialise, and he was told to join the Pest Control Company to spray locusts and birds in the Gezira Scheme. He told them that he was trained to fight in the air, against other fighters, not locusts and birds. He found himself deceived by General Hassen El Bashir into coming to Sudan to join the military college and, thereafter, the Sudan Air Force.

Disillusioned and frustrated, he decided to leave the country again for Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, he could not rejoin the Ethiopian Air Force, as he was a foreigner. He left for Kenya on foot. Entering Kenya in 1963, he was joined by the following Southern Sudanese friends: John Garang, Nyok Abeil, Gew Ayuel, Majok Ayuen, and Lueth Garang. They were charged with suspicion of belonging to the Maumau Movement. An additional charge for entering Kenya without migration documents was added. They were sentenced to six months' imprisonment. After the appeal, they were released after serving six months. Mathew Mading and John Garang then left for Tanganyika (Tanzania).

Mathew went to the Congo, which was then experiencing political turmoil. He joined mercenaries fighting on behalf of the Congo's Prime Minister, Moise Tshombe, along with some other Southern Sudanese, to acquire arms for the Southern Sudan Independent Movement. They successfully supplied the movement with ammunition in Eastern Congo. These were the first automatic weapons received by the rebel movement. The mercenaries recommended Mathew Mading for a scholarship abroad, praising the good work he had done. He was awarded a scholarship to the U.S.A in 1964. He travelled to the U.S.A and enrolled at Ohio State University. He studied at the Aviation School and graduated as a certified pilot. He then returned to university to continue his studies in aviation technology. He obtained his first degree, a B.Sc., and later earned his M.Sc. in Aviation Technology from the same university.

In 1973, he returned to Sudan with the ambition to join the Sudanese Air Force, but he did not succeed. Instead, he joined Dr Khalil Osman Company to fly the Sesena planes, working there for some time. When the Southern Regional Government High Executive Council (H.E.C) purchased a Sesena plane, he was appointed to fly it. H.E.C authorities then recommended him to the Ministry of Interior for appointment as a police officer. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. He advanced in his career until 1983, when the Southern Regional Government was divided into three regions. During the redistribution of H.E.C assets, the plane was allocated to the Upper Nile Regional Government along with a new pilot who was his co-pilot.

The aircraft had to undergo major repairs before it could fly again, but the new pilot insisted on flying it without proper maintenance. Later, the Transitional H.E.C. was established in 1985, and Captain Mathew was summoned to take over the plane. He refused, knowing it still needed significant repairs and maintenance to be airworthy. Despite this, the new pilot took the risk of flying the plane to Juba, where it disappeared in the Sudd region of Upper Nile. It is believed to have crashed there. Captain Mathew Mading was ordered to locate the plane, but his efforts were unsuccessful. He was later attached to the Southern Sudan Coordination Council in Khartoum until it was disbanded in 1992. He was pensioned off in 1993 with the rank of Brigadier.

In 1997, he left Wau for his village of Ahany-Panapek. He worked as a volunteer teacher in the community schools. In 1999, he fell ill and was taken to Uganda, then to Nairobi for further treatment. When his health improved, he returned to the village in 2001. The illness did not leave him; he fell ill again. Efforts were made to treat him at home, but he did not improve. He was taken to Rumbek Hospital and then back to the village, where he passed away on 20 July 2001.

Late Mathew Mading Riak was renowned for many qualities. He was an adventurer, brave, decisive, generous, a good conversationalist, teacher, actor, a skilled reader, critic, composer of songs, singer, and a traditionalist of the highest order. To illustrate these traits, consider some incidents from his life.

In 1974, the absorbed Anyanya (1) forces Battalion in Southern Sudan opposed integration into the national army and nearly revolted. The President of the H.E.C., H.E. Abel Alier Kuai, was involved in negotiations, as he was responsible for security and good governance in the South. The forces in Kapoeta were on the brink of rebellion. The President visited Torit garrison to investigate the situation. After assessing the situation, he decided to visit the Battalion in Kapoeta. However, the garrison commander and General Joseph Lagu advised him not to attempt the journey, as the military situation was tense. The soldiers there had arrested their commander and warned the Officer Commanding in Torit that they would shoot him if he tried to arrest them. Mutiny was imminent.

The President of H.E.C. decided not to argue with the military authorities and ordered Pilot Mading to fly back to Juba. They departed for Juba, but a few minutes into the flight, the President asked if they could turn towards Kapoeta. Without hesitation, the pilot agreed and headed for Kapoeta. They caught the army by surprise at the airstrip when Captain Mading landed the plane amidst armed soldiers. Emerging from the aircraft, they moved to the place where the commander was held captive and negotiated his release. The situation stabilised, helping to prevent a wider revolt among other battalions in the south aligned with Anyanya (1).

In 1975, he flew with the Governor of Bahr El Ghazal, Hon. Isaiah Kulang Mabor, to Gogrial. They were unaware that the Gogrial airstrip was flooded until they saw it from the air. Captain Mading chose to land on a small, dry strip at the end of the runway. The trees at the end of the strip posed a risk, but he landed safely, stopping short before the trees. These incidents exemplified his love for duty, bravery, courage, and decisiveness.

Captain Mathew Mading Riak was a staunch traditionalist. When schools closed during annual holidays, he would return to his village and join the activities of the native youth. He participated in local tribe dances, praised bulls, and slaughtered cattle to honour his praise bull by piercing its horns and tying a cluster of buffalo tails. After returning from the U.S.A. in 1973, he started buying cattle, which he used in marriage rituals. He would visit cattle camps where others looked after his cattle. He composed songs for the Atuot dance and for praising bulls.

Once, the President of H.E.C. wanted Captain Mathew Mading to fly to a certain destination, but Captain Mading was not in Juba Town. He had gone to the cattle camp as usual. The President sent two officials from a non-Dinka tribe to summon him. They drove to the cattle camp by the Luri River. When they asked the locals about Captain Mathew Mading’s whereabouts, they pointed to a figure in a long undergarment and a vast with ashes smeared all over his body. Captain Mading was singing and praising his bull. The locals could not believe their eyes when they realised the singing figure was Captain Mading, the pilot. They inquired again about the pilot, and the locals pointed him out. They approached cautiously and called out his name. He turned to see who was calling him, came over, and asked what they wanted. They were amazed at his appearance. They told him the President of H.E.C. urgently required him for duty. He said he would prepare immediately to leave with them. They then returned to the town, recounting how they found him, Captain Mathew Mading, in the cattle camp.

While in Juba, he advised his friend, Dr Anyuat Angui, to buy cattle. When Dr Anyuat bought a cow, he told him to increase his herd; otherwise, he warned, he would be killed, either by him for praising his bull or by a cattle disease. Dr Anyuat purchased three more cows and recommended that others also buy cattle to keep in camps around Juba.

It is a Dinka tradition that a person is given a name based on a praise bull. This name is used throughout their life unless they acquire a new bull to change it. The name becomes their surname for recognition in the community, in addition to their usual name. Their bull name must address them in all settings, and calling them by their ordinary name in public would be deemed an act of dishonor.

In one instance, Captain Mathew Mading was named ‘WURCHUK’. He sent someone to the Panapek area to announce his new name, but the person did not do so as instructed. Captain Mading then returned to his home village, Aluakluak, where all chiefs and others gathered at the court centre to observe cases. When they saw Captain Mading's car stop, they approached him. The President of the Regional Court of Panapek, Mayor Macar Ijong, greeted him by his ordinary name. Mading stopped him and inquired if they had been informed of his new name. Mayor Macar replied that no news of the new name had reached the area. Captain Mading then declared, "My new name is WURCHUK." The people around him were amazed by his new name, as he was the only one in Panapek with it.  

One evening, his elite friends from the Dinka tribe visited him at one of the cattle camps near Juba. They started speaking to him in English. He immediately stopped them from continuing to converse in English. He told them that speaking English or Arabic in the cattle camp was forbidden to prevent cattle from stampeding whenever they heard unfamiliar language. He welcomed them to sit on papyrus mats beside the cattle, where cow dung is dried for smoking out insects that may harm the cattle. He went around collecting milk from his friends in the camp, following the Dinka way of life when guests arrive in one of the ‘’GOL or DHEN’’.

He served the milk hot to drink. It was good and healthy, he advised, to drink it straight from the cow. Sometimes, he slaughtered a ram or a bull for his guests, depending on how many they were. Much of the meat was roasted on an open fire or on a dry cow-dung fire. The meat was delicious, especially since pots are rare in the cattle camp. Pictures taken by Captain Mathew and Dr Anyuat Angui in the cattle camps around Juba serve as a vivid reminder of his love for tradition. He was equally eloquent in both Dinka and English. He was a good conversationalist, and laughter at his stories was common at any community gathering.

Captain Mathew Mading Riak returned from America to marry native girls from the village as his wives. He was a simple man despite his educational background and his association with cultures from around the world. He had the character to adapt himself to a new society, and he was without prejudice. He left his legacy wherever he went. He understood politics; he could discuss it critically, but did not involve himself. Captain Mathew Mading Riak had a lifelong friend. The friend was the late Chief Stephen Thiangkol Ijong. He taught him to read and write the Bible in Dinka. He helped convert Thiangkol to Christianity. He used to join Stephen Thiangkol during school breaks from Akot, Loka, and Rumbek Schools.

The people of Yirol Province, Lakes State, and the south at large regret the premature death of Police Brigadier, Captain Mathew Mading Riak, who challenged foreign traditions he learned at school and throughout his lifetime. He never forgot our traditions. He respected, acted on, and practised them. Many of our youth now abroad would have learned how to blend our cherished traditions with the increasing influence of other foreign civilisations, which are challenging us in every way, using modern means to our disadvantage.  

The poster of this biography is the nephew of Captain Mathew Mading Riak, and the Author is my father-in-law because I married his daughter, Dr Arecro. I received the hard copy of the biography from his son, Apar Richard Makur, in 2021.