 In 1983, the Regional Government of Southern Sudan was divided into three regions.These were Bahr Elgazal Region, Equatoria Region and the Upper Nile Region.Mathews was the governor of the Upper Nile Region for a number of years before he left that position, after the government of Gaafar Nimeiry failed to survive the national turmoil created by the war in the South and the uprising in the North.