According to a statement issued by First Vice President and leader of the main armed opposition group Riek Machar, General Gawar died at the SPLA-IO headquarters in Dhiel of Upper Nile State after a short illness.
“General Stephen Gawar Manyok passed on early this morning at 2:00 AM Monday 2nd October 2023. He suddenly died in Diel at the GHQS of SPLM/SPLA(IO) of which he was in command,” the statement reads in part.
“He died at age of sixty-one. His body has been taken to Malakal and is now laying in UMISS mortuary awaiting to be transported to Ayod where he will be laid to rest,” the statement added.
General Gawar is a well-known army commander who was among the SPLA commanders during the war, Machar said.
“General Gawar was a dedicated and experienced leader who played a key role in the peace process. He will be deeply missed,” Machar added.
He was a company commander for the Wolf Battalion and then served as commissioner of Ayod County in Jonglei State, his home state, following the signing of the CPA in 2005.
He was appointed to become the SPLA-IO director of administration and finance in March 2021.
Manyok was the visionary leader who have serve S. Sudan and participated a long during the early years of struggle.
Hehas also serve as SPLM-IO’S Director for admin andvfinance for good three years since 2021 up to on 2 October this year his death made us shocked at this time.
We can never forget the hero of community