South Sudan mourns former presidential advisor
February 10, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudan government has declared three days of national mourning in honour of former presidential advisor, Lual Diing Wol, who passed on Monday.
A presidential statement read on the state-owned SSTV Tuesday, directed different categories and levels of government to inform the public.
Wol was initially taken to Germany for treatment, but was returned to Agha Khan Hospital in Nairobi, after spending more than two years in Germany.
The deceased was one of the high ranking members of South Sudan’s governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), serving in several capacities in different governments and rebel movements when armed conflict broke out between North and South Sudan in 1983.
He represented his geographical constituency of Ariath, Aweil north county in the present day Lol State at national parliament in Khartoum, Sudan, from which South Sudan succeeded in 2011 following the conduct of referendum in compliance with the terms of the 2005 comprehensive peace accord, which the SPLM under the leadership of late John Garang and Sudan government signed to end the over two decade conflict.
He was a member of political military high command council, which was the highest decision making body in the movement at the time and became a presidential advisor for political affairs from 2005 to 2010 when he declared he has resigned from his position in protest of the way president Salva Kiir had managed the affairs of the country in clear neglect of the advises he offered in his capacity. His decision was rejected by president Kiir and allowed to serve until he was later removed in July 2013.
Widely known for his two nicknames as “Lanbaar” for his height and “Baba Africa” for his elderly role in the liberation struggle, Wol was one of the first politicians and former free freedom fighters of the first civil war known as Anyanya war in Sudan who took to the bush in1983 and trekked to the Ethiopian border where the SPLM at inception in 1983 was establishing military camps. He was in the company of other veteran politicians in greater Bahr el Ghazal region, including General Kawac Makuei.
Wol died as serving Member of Parliament and member of the political bureau, the highest political decision making organ in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, which has now split into three separate factions after political differences in 2013 turned violence over internal reforms.
Former South Sudanese deputy defense minister Majak D’ Agoot and one of those who know him in the movement described him as “a morale booster to the fighters and had a special sense of humour”.
Ngor Arol Garang, a South Sudanese journalist and one of those who grew up during the movement knowing him as a leader described him as “symbol of struggle of freedom, liberty, courage, love and unity of purpose”.
“The country has lost a very important and precious political figure. He was a statesman who left his mark over more than 60 years of South Sudan politics. He was irreplaceable with his genuine style and his way with words, as well as his tolerance, ambition, and democratic personality. I wish him God’s blessings. I also express my condolences to our country and all those who loved him,” said Garang.
He added, “There is no doubt that Uncle Lual Diing Wol made great services and contributions to our struggle for development and progress”.
Wol, according to Garang, who has passed away leaving many traces, memories and achievements behind, will always be remembered with gratitude and respect, and his years-long struggle for democracy will be remembered with envy. I wish the blessings of God for the late uncle Lualdit and condolences for his family and our beloved people”.
South Sudanese deputy education minister and secretary for information, culture and communications at the ruling party’s national secretariat, Bol Makueng Yuol, described Wol as “a renowned freedom fighter, a politician, a teacher, indeed a loving father”.
“The SPLM National Secretariat has just learned with deep sorrow of the untimely passing on of one of the great sons and leaders of South Sudan, commander Lual Diing Wol. We received the bad news of the death of Hon. Commander Lual Diing, fondly known as “Baba Africa” today”, he said Wednesday.
The former advisor passed on in Nairobi at Agha Khan Hospital on 8 February 2016.
“The veteran freedom fighter was a former member of parliament and died while still in that position, a presidential advisor, a member of the SPLM Political Bureau”, added Yuol.
(ST)