The speaker of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) legislative assembly Judi Jonglei Boyoris has died.
Judi, who previously served as the speaker and minister of information in Jonglei State before the establishment of GPAA, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 60.
The cause of his death remains unknown.
Abraham Kelang, the area’s information minister, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that arrangements are underway for the funeral and burial of the assembly speaker.
The official said they are shocked to have learnt of the speaker’s demise and that arrangements are being made to have his body transported to Pibor and later Jebel Boma.
“Before his death on Tuesday at 4am, Speaker Judi had not complained of illness. He was even spotted in public the evening before. On Tuesday, we learnt that he collapsed and died,” he said. “However, he was treated for diabetes and hypertension recently.”
He added, “This Thursday morning, we had planned to have his body flown to Pibor town so that mourners turn up to pay homage at his funeral before the body is taken for burial in Jebel Boma. However, rains in Jebel Boma disrupted the plan.”
Meanwhile, John Joseph Abulla, the deputy chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Area, said he was shocked by the loss.
“It is very unfortunate that we lost a great man. Judi was not just a speaker to me, but he was my primary five teacher in 1982 before the liberation war. We then joined again in politics in 2005 when he was the first speaker of Jonglei State while I was a Pochalla County commissioner. In 2010, we were both elected as MPs in Jonglei.”