Kiir declares three days of mourning in honor of late Manawa

President Salva Kiir has declared three days of mourning in honor of the National Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, who died in Egypt on June 19.

Kiir ordered the flag to fly at half-mast. Government institutions will be closed during the mourning period.

The body of the late Manawa Peter arrived in Juba from Cairo on Monday, June 27, and is being buried at Simba square next to Giada military barrack in Juba.

A state funeral; a procession with a gun carriage and military contingents will be conducted in honor of his outstanding service.

“We are now mourning this young man Manawa Peter Gatkuoth who died pre-maturely. We have lost a great man. Let us pray to God to rest his soul in eternal peace,” Kiir stated.

Last week, Minister Manawa was hurriedly flown to Egypt from Juba for medical attention. Doctors in Cairo said he succumbed to “high blood pressure and chest pain that destroyed the main vein to his heart, stomach, and kidneys.”

Late Manawa was described as “a strong leader and a committed nationalist with firm believes in reforms.”

President Kiir recently appointed him to lead the fact-finding committee on Leer County armed violence in Unity State.

Manawa hails from Jonglei state and served as Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation on the SPLM-IO ticket.

He was also the chairman of the National Committee for Information and Public Relations in the SPLM-IO, as well as a member of the Political Bureau.

Manawa Peter Gatkuoth was 49 years old.