South Sudanese head to Juba airport in hundreds to receive late Manawa’s body

JUBA – South Sudanese all over  Juba have poured into the streets of Juba heading to the capital’s only Juba International Airport to receive the body of late minister of water resources and irrigation Manawa Peter Gatkuoth Gual who passed on in Egypt last week.

Gatkuoth, a prominent opposition figure and a highly respected politician from Jonglei state, died in the Egyptian capital Cairo just two days after he was flown in from Juba after complaining of chest pain, sparking anti-government sentiments over failure to avail medical services in the country.

Over the weekend, a committee formed to organize the arrival of Minister Manawa’s body told Sudans Post that the late minister’s body would arrive on Monday with mourners expected to receive him at Juba International Airport.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, several mourners heading to the airport expressed their sadness over the demise of the senior government official.

“I am going to receive this national loss at the airport. Honorable Manawa Peter Gatkuoth Gual is a very big loss to the Republic of South Sudan and I am really sad that God went to choose him at this time that we need him the most in our country especially in these times for the need for development,” one mourner said.

Another mourner blamed the SPLM party for failure to fulfill pre-independent promises of availing health services, saying Manawa should have been rescued had there been a responsible government with a program to implement health services in the country.

“He would have not died had the SPLM leaders made health facilities available. We cannot treat our people outside the country and we expect them to be treated the way they should be,” she said.