A 27-year-old University of Juba graduate from Rumbek East County in Lakes State committed suicide last Thursday evening after his family resolved to pay five cows as bride price to the family of his fiancée.
Mabor Mangok Tuil who intended to marry Yom Mabor, committed suicide in Rumbek town’s Akuac suburb after his family pledged only five cows as bride price to the parents of his intended. The deceased is said to have taken it as an indication that his family did not want him to marry as other suitors would offer more head of cattle in bride price, outcompeting him.
One of Mangok’s relatives, Yar Mawat Adut, told Radio Tamazuj over the weekend that the family did not intend to frustrate his marriage to the woman of his choice.
“His uncle and elder brother agreed to pay bride price of five cows to the parents of the girl as the (marriage) process continues,” Yar said. “This was discussed and agreed with him (deceased) and nobody has denied him. He just ended up killing himself even without a quarrel with anyone home.”
She said Mangok called his fiancée moments before taking his life to inform her of his intention to commit suicide and he disregarded her pleas not to and that she will marry him despite the challenges he was facing.
“When his girlfriend heard this information the same (Thursday) evening, she came to us at the police station and threatened to kill herself. This is when the police asked her parents to take her back home,” Yar said.
According to Yar, the other suitors purportedly vying for Yom’s hand in marriage have not even shown up, and that someone from the Pakam section having an interest in the lady was just a rumor.
“The deceased has been questioning his elder brother about why he married three wives and yet he (Mangok) has not yet married and now they are telling him there is no bride price for him to marry,” Yar explained. “This is where the Mangok got annoyed and committed suicide.”
John Aru, the police officer in charge of investigations in Rumbek town, confirmed the suicide but said no one has been arrested.
“The person who committed suicide is 27 years old and none of his relatives has been arrested for investigation because they are still mourning his death and the burial has not been done,” Aru said.
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) coordinator in Lakes State, Daniel Laat Kon, confirmed the suicide and said Mangok took his life due to a disagreement with his parents about the girl he wanted to marry.
“His parents told the deceased that they will not afford to pay the bride price for the girl,” Laat said. “So, disagreement emerged because his brother had married 2 wives and his uncle also married more than 2 wives and those happened while he was single and was for studies at the University of Juba.”