South Sudan declares two days of mourning for Fr. Kinga Longoko

By Isaac Vuni

July 21, 2009 (JUBA) — The South Sudan government has declared a two-day mourning for GOSS presidential adviser Fr. George Kinga Longoko, who died Monday at Juba Teaching Hospital at the age of 69 years.

Tens of thousands of southerners attended a Requiem Mass to pay their respects to Fr. George Kinga Longoko, GOSS Presidential Advisor on religious affairs, at St. Joseph Parish in Juba from 9.00 to 11.00 am.

Speaking to the congregation, Sudan’s First Vice-President, and head of southern Sudan government Salva Kiir Mayadrit declared a two-day mourning in southern Sudan starting from 21 to 22 July.

He also said that the late written will to be burred in his home area ought to be respected. Salva Kiir

The First Vice-President appealed to southerners to remains in unity and follow good deeds of late father Kinga of uniting people of God irrespective of their creeds, race ethnicity, regions and colour.

Regarding the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, President Kiir alerted southern that there are outstanding issues of border demarcation between north and the south, constituency allocation and wealth sharing should not be based on the recent fifth Sudan population and housing census.

Kiir urged both SPLM and NCP including southerners to respect the outcome of arbitration tribunal without resolving to yet another civil war.

The body of Fr. Kinga will be flown in a plane chartered by GOSS to southern Kapeata, Eastern Euatoria state.

Some southern Sudan officials will travel with the coffin: Madut Baar GOSS minister of Telecommunication and postal services who is also the acting minister for Information and broadcasting, Hon Louis Lobong, Peace and Reconciliation and SPLM chairman in Eastern Euatoria state, Awout Deng Acuil minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development and Hon. Nartisio Loluke Manir representing the southern Sudan parliament.

Already over thirty vehicles carrying ministers and legislators left Juba for Kapoeta soon after the requiem mass.

Speaking on behalf of Speaker James Wani, Hon. Jimmy Wongo Miji, chairman of public account committee of SSLA said southerners are sadden to witness yet another tragic death of their committed and distinguished leaders of southern Sudan.

The requiem mass was celebrated by parish priest Fr. Peter Nafoni.

PROFILE OF LATE FR. KINGA

Born in 1940, at Riwoto village of Kapoeta District, attended elementary school at Nalingora from 1953-58, joined Okaru minor seminary from 1958 to 1964.

Owing to abominable missionary act of General Ibrahim Aboud, late Kinga felt to Ugandan and continued with seminary education till ordained a catholic priest for ever in 1967 and served as Parish Priest of Nalingaro from 1972-74.

Attained a master degree in Social Anthropology then sought dispensation from priesthood granted by His Holyness the Pope. Thereafter he was awarded a PhD in Theology from a US university.

The late joined politic and was elected to the national parliament. He served as minister of agriculture of Southern Sudan Coordinating Council from 1987-89. He also served as minister of Labour and Social Insurance but abandoned ministerial position and joined Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. He immediately was appointed by late Dr. John Garang as SPLM Secretary for Industry and Mining till the CPA was signed in 2005.

From September 2005 he had been appointed a Presidential Advisor and member of SSLA till his death on 20th July 2009 at 9.30 am in Juba Teaching Hospital.

(ST)