Akobo State Governor General Johnson Gony Bilieu is dead, his family and officials confirmed this evening.

 Governor Bilieu died at a hospital in Turkey while undergoing treatment.

“General Gony died on Thursday night. We don’t have more details about the cause of his death until now,” Koang Nyuot Dieu, a family member told Radio Tamazuj.

He said arrangements are underway to bring the body back home for burial.

Mr Dieu called Governor Gony’s death a huge loss to the country.

General Gony had been out of the country since May for a head surgery in Turkey.

On his part, the acting state governor Khan Yiech said they received the news with shock.

General Gony had served as the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Upper Nile sector commander before being appointed as Akobo governor in January 2017.