The South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Affairs has announced the death of two senior diplomats in the capital Juba over the weekend.
Hakim Edward, the ministry's spokesperson told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that Ambassadors Moses Akol Ajawin and Abdun Terkoc both died on Sunday. The cause of death is yet to be determined.
“We can confirm to you about the unfortunate death of Ambassador Moses Akol Ajawin. He was a senior ambassador of Grade one actually in the ministry. He was somebody who was committed to his work and he presided over several positions in the ministry," he said.
Edward said Ambassador Akol, who is the brother of the leader of the National Democratic Movement, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin, was Sudan's Ambassador to Sweden before South Sudan's independence.
"At the time of his passing, he was attached to UNDP as a national expert. So really he was somebody committed to the ministry of foreign affairs, so his demise is regrettable. He was not sick, he reported to work on Thursday and Friday but the autopsy will tell us the cause of his death” Edward added.
Edward further said the former Undersecretary in the ministry of foreign Affairs Abdun Terkoc died after a short illness.
“The late ambassador Terkoc served his people with diligence; he was a very active person in doing his duties. He has been unwell for about three weeks. He was admitted at Dr.John Garang Infectious Disease Center,” he added.
Edward eulogized Terkoc as a man of the people and said his death was a great loss not only to the ministry but the nation at large.