Death of SPLA’s Gen. Santo Ayang Deng
By Manyang Mayom
April 30, 2006 (JUBA) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) announced the death of Maj. Gen. Santo Ayang Deng who contracted Meningitis during his tour of duty in Northern Bahr -El-Ghazal earlier this month of April.
There are reports of high meningitis outbreaks in the area he had visited for following his return to Rumbek he was stricken with the disease. Because he does not take medicines or drugs, he lay in his house for two days
Hoping to get better as usual, but his condition deteriorated and he was rushed to hospital. From there the Rumbek hospital authorities saw his condition to be serious and referred him to Juba where he died.
His body was returned to Rumbek for burial and he was buried with full military honours. The deceased Maj.Gen.Santo Ayang Deng is survived by two wives, three daughters and six sons.
Upon completion of his secondary education, the late Maj.Gen.Santo Ayang Deng joined the SPLA in 1983 and rose through the ranks .He led the Tumsah and Tiger Battalions’ .He had military training in the USA, Uganda and Ethiopia.
At the time of his decease, he was Commander of the SPLA/M Army’s Third Division that is based here in Rumbek .He was also appointed Director for Inspection at the general HQS and further appointed chairman for re-organizational Committee SPLA Bahr el Ghazal Region.
(ST)