General Johnson Gony Bilieu, the military governor of Akobo State, was hospitalized in Turkey after he underwent head surgery, officials said on Saturday.

The acting governor Khan Yiech told Radio Tamazuj that the governor has been out of the state since May for a head surgery. He, however, noted that the operation was successful.

“Now, only blood pressure is high... the governor’s health condition is stable,” he said.

The state official has denied reports that Governor Johnson Gony has died at a hospital in Istanbul, the capital of Turkey.

Meanwhile, the State Minister of Information Yiey Ruadel Rambang denied reports that Governor Gony died on Friday.

Ruadel accused unnamed politicians of spreading unfound reports.

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.