South Sudan’s Minister for East African Affairs John Luk Jok has died aged 68, his family and authorities confirmed.

The minister was pronounced dead in Juba on Tuesday morning after a battle with poor health.

Deng Bol, the nephew of the late minister, told Radio Tamazuj that John Luk died at his home after suffering from a cardiac arrest.

“Luk had also been ailing from high blood pressure and malaria. On Tuesday at around 3 am, his blood pressure went high,” Bol said.

The relative pointed out that the minister died on his way to hospital. “The body has been moved to the mortuary, and I want to confirm to the public that John did not die of COVID-19,” he stressed.

Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information and Communication, said the death of Minister John Luk is a great loss to the people of South Sudan.

 “I would like to pass my condolences to the family and the leadership of South Sudan. John Luk contributed a lot and his legacy will be remembered,” Makuei added.

Luk, who hailed from the Lou Nuer community in Akobo, participated in the liberation struggle that led to the independence of South Sudan in 2011 and also helped in the drafting of the transitional constitution in 2011.

 He held several government positions after the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including becoming the minister of youth and sports, and petroleum and mining.

Prior to his appointment as minister of East African Affairs he had served as the minister of transport.  He has also previously served as minister of justice and constitutional affairs.

He was a member of SPLM Former Detainees, a group of high level SPLM officials who were arrested after the outbreak of war in December 2013 and accused of trying to overthrow President Salva Kiir. They were later released due to lack of evidence and fled to Kenya.

 In 2015, Luk returned to Juba with some members of former detainees to implement the peace agreement.