Machar says Egyptian doctors ‘tried their best’ to rescue irrigation minister

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President and leader of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Dr. Riek Machar Teny has issued a statement confirming the demise of the country’s Minister of Water Resources & Irrigation Manawa Peter Gatkuoth Gual and said Egyptian “doctors tried their best” to rescue him.

Gatkuoth who doubled as the chairperson of SPLM-IO national committee for information and public relations died in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Sunday morning, two days after he was flown in from Juba where he complained of a persistent chest pain.

In a statement, Machar said the minister was diagnosed with a high blood pressure that destroyed the main vein in his heart, stomach and his kidney, and that the Egyptian doctors who were at the helm of treating him had tried their utmost best to rescue the minister before he died.

“Hon. Manawa Peter Gatkuoth Gual, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation died in hospital in Cairo. He was, on Friday 17th June 2022, flown from Juba to Egypt after being attended to in Freedom and Baraka hospitals for chest pain in Juba. In Cairo, he was diagnosed to have been suffering from High Blood Pressure that destroyed the main vein to his heart, stomach and kidneys,” Machar said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.

“Yesterday, the doctors tried their best to replace the veins but he passed on at 5:00 am this morning Sunday 19th June 2022. Preparations are underway for his body to be flown to Juba. The burial arrangements will be communicated later on,” he added.

He praised the late minister’s role during the liberation struggle right from the days of colleague in Sudan and his commitment to implementation of reforms being spearheaded by the SPLM-IO.

“Hon. Manawa Peter was a strong student leader during his University days as well as leader in youth movement in Sudan. He was a committed nationalist. He was a strong believer in Reform in the Republic of South Sudan,” he said.

“He was committed to do his outmost in achieving prosperity for people of South Sudan. He was SPLM (IO) Chairman of National Committee for Information and Public Relations and a member of SPLM (IO) Political Bureau,” he added.

“On behalf of SPLM/SPLA(IO) and the South Sudanese people, I am conveying our deep condolences to his family, members of the Revitalized Government of National Unity and to all members of SPLM/SPLA(IO). May God rest his soul in eternal peace.”