South Sudanese from different ethnic backgrounds are mourning the death of Andrew Makur Thou, a former civil war veteran.

Makur died today morning in the Sudanese capital Khartoum where he was seeking medical treatment after referral from Juba.

Presidential advisor on military affairs Daniel Awet Akot told Radio Tamazuj today that Makur was one of the army generals of who had served diligently after a long journey of sacrifice, struggle and the service with all sincerity and dedication.

“I was shocked when I was told of the passing away of Andrew Makur Thou. I am told he died at Royal care hospital in Khartoum. Andrew Makur, as all know, was one of the founding leaders of the first struggle which started in 1955 in Torit and after the Addis Ababa peace agreement in March 1972,” he said.

”He became one of those South Sudanese  who were integrated as officers into the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), where he served until April 6, 1985 during the April uprising in which president Jaafar Mohamed Nimeiry of Sudan was deposed from power,” he explained.

Makur, according to Awet, also served as the minister for transport and communications in the Executive Council of Southern Sudan. Later he became a member of the constituent assembly after wing the 1986 election.

Awet further said Makur resigned from parliament and returned to the Sudanese army upon recall by the military leadership and was appointed commander of the Bahr el Ghazal military region where he stayed until new military junta came into power in June 1989.

Makur was later posted to Prussia and Italy where he served as ambassador representing Sudan after retiring from the military service.

Makur was a father-in-law to the former South Sudanese ambassador to Russia, Telar Riing Deng, who confirmed the passing away of his father-in-law, saying it was a difficult moment in the family.