Garang Tong Akec is being held at Ariath Police Station as investigators seek to establish the circumstances that led to the death of his wife, Ayak Kuch Akoon, who was found dead on Monday evening after allegedly taking her own life.
Speaking to this outlet in an exclusive telephone interview on Wednesday, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Police spokesperson Madut Ngong Aleu said preliminary findings indicate that the couple had engaged in a heated argument shortly before the tragedy occurred.
According to Aleu, Ayak reportedly left the scene of the dispute unnoticed, obtained a rope, and later hanged herself.
“The suspect is currently being held in police custody as investigations continue,” Aleu said.
He added that police are working to determine the exact cause of the disagreement and whether there were underlying factors that may have contributed to the woman’s death.
“We are investigating the matter to establish what led to the quarrel and the events that culminated in the woman’s death,” he said.
The deceased, a mother of five children, leaves behind an eight-month-old baby, a detail that Aleu said has deeply saddened residents of the area.
“What shocked everybody is that the woman left behind five children, including an eight-month-old baby,” he said.
Although police have not established a motive for the dispute, Aleu said some community members have alleged that the couple had been facing economic difficulties and were frequently seen drinking alcohol together.
“Some reports indicate that the couple had been drinking together, and it is possible that alcohol may have contributed to tensions between them,” he said, stressing that the claims remain part of ongoing investigations.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Ariath Payam, where residents described the couple as struggling to make ends meet while raising their children.
The case is the latest in a series of reported suicides and suspected suicides in different parts of South Sudan, prompting renewed concerns about mental health challenges, domestic conflicts, and the lack of accessible psychosocial support services.
Mental health advocates have long warned that many South Sudanese continue to grapple with the effects of poverty, unemployment, family stress, and unresolved trauma, often without access to professional counselling or community support mechanisms.
Police said investigations remain ongoing and urged members of the public to refrain from speculation until the inquiry is completed.
