Unity state minister succumbs to liver failure
November 1, 2014 (KAMPALA) – A minister in South Sudan’s Unity state, Riek Degoal Juer, has died due to liver failure, his son told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
A renowned engineer by profession, the deceased was in 2005 appointed through a decree as South Sudan’s representative in the border demarcation of contested areas between the two Sudans.
He also served as director general for physical planning and infrastructure in the housing ministry at the national government.
Born in 1953 in Unity state, Juer attended Bentiu junior primary school. In 1967, he joined upper intermediate secondary school and excelled to earn a scholarship at CLMINA University of Cairo faculty of engineering and survey graduating with a first degree in 1986.
He worked with Sudan government as executive director of survey in Greater Upper Nile, where he surveyed Malakal and Renk towns.
However, when Greater Upper Nile was divided, he was deployed in Unity state as an executive director for survey in 1992 and later defected and joined the Sudan People Liberation Army in the fight against the Khartoum oppressive regime towards the south.
From 1994 -1997, he was SPLM secretary General in unity state, a position he held until the Khartoum Peace Agreement (KPA) where he was appointed a zonal commander in Central Equatoria with the South Sudan Independent Movement or (SSIM).
In 2001, Juer joined Africa University in Sudan and was awarded a Master’s degree in Geology and Survey. He worked with the German Technical Cooperation agency (GTZ) and was its appointed director general for South Sudan. He surveyed many roads constructed.
(ST)