Bona Malwal, one of South Sudan’s most prominent post-independence figures, passed away on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the age of 97.
In a condolence message issued on Tuesday, President Kiir expressed profound sorrow over the passing of the elder statesman, extending sympathies to his family and friends.
“On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of South Sudan and my own family, I offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends, and Twic Mayardit community and South Sudan at large,” Kiir said.
He lauded the late as a veteran politician, elder statesman, journalist, and author whose legacy will be remembered for his tireless advocacy and contributions to the liberation of South Sudan.
“He published many books and founded numerous journals and magazines that became the voice of the South Sudanese people throughout the struggle and wars of liberation,” Kiir noted.
The president described Malwal as a visionary who sacrificed greatly for his people and whose absence will be deeply felt.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” he added.
Born in 1928 in Bahr el Ghazal, Bona Malwal hailed from Twic County in Warrap State. He was among the first generation of southern Sudanese to study in the United States, earning degrees from Indiana University and Columbia University. His father, Sultan Madut Ring, was the paramount chief of the Ajakuac section.
Malwal’s journalism career began in the 1960s when he founded and edited influential newspapers such as The Vigilant and The Sudan Democratic Gazette, both of which championed the rights of southern Sudanese and later advocated for self-determination.
Following the signing of the 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement that ended Sudan’s first civil war, Malwal joined the national government as Minister of Culture and Information, serving from 1973 to 1978.
After the Islamist-backed coup in Khartoum in 1989, he went into exile in the United Kingdom, where he continued his political activism and publishing work.
He returned to Sudan after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 and later served as Presidential Advisor to then-President Omar al-Bashir until South Sudan attained independence in 2011.
