Juba, South Sudan
June 21, 2022 — In a letter of condolences sent to the family of late Hon. Manawa Peter Gatkuoth Gual, the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, who died on Sunday in Cairo, Egypt, South Sudan’s First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny explains in-depth what he believes to be the mysterious cause of death of Hon. Manawa.
In a press statement obtained by Nyamilepedia, Dr. Riek Machar revealed that Minister Manawa died of a “high blood pressure” that damaged “one of the main arteries that carries blood to the heart” and as a result damaged his internal organs.
The late was reportedly admitted at Freedom and Baraka hospitals in Juba due to “chest pain” before his evacuation to Egypt.
“Honorable Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation died in hospital in Cairo. He was flown from Juba to Egypt after he was admitted at Freedom and Baraka hospitals for chest pain in Juba,” Machar said in a statement.
According to the First Vice President, the Egyptian doctors “tried their best to replace” the vein but Hon. Manawa passed on at 5:00 Am.
“The doctors tried their best to replace the vein, but he passed on at 5:00 AM this morning, Sunday June 19th 2022,” Machar said.
According to Machar’s statement of condolence, late Hon. Gatkuoth was a great leader who was committed to achieving prosperities for the people of South Sudan.
For his part, the government Spokesperson and Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth, confirmed the demise of Gatkuoth and also cited the damage to the “main artery” as the cause of his death.
“They found that one of the main arteries that take blood to the heart was damaged, so the only way was to remove it and replace it, so they put in for operation yesterday afternoon, the operation was over but unfortunately, he passed on this morning,” Makuei told media.
Minister Makuei, however, said the government has not yet received the official report on what led to the death of his cabinet counterpart.
“This is what are getting, and we have not yet received the official report, and the official declaration of the death of the minister will be announced by the office of the head-of-state,” he added.
Manawa was appointed as the minister in March 2020 as part of the revitalized peace agreement that came into effect on February 22, 2020.
He also served as a Minister of Physical Infrastructure in Jonglei State between 2010-2013.
Manawa was also the Chairman of the National Committee for Information and Public Relations, spokesman for the SPLM (IO) and Member of the SPLM-IO Political Bureau.
