South Sudan army chief has died

Juba, April 20, 2018 (SSNA) — South Sudan’s army chief of General staff, General James Ajongo Mawut, has on Friday dies in Egypt, according to a statement released by the government.

President Kiir praised Gen. Ajongo as a hero who served his nation with dedication.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the untimely death of General James Ajongo Mawut, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army’s chief of defense force. He served this nation with dedication and honour and shall be remembered as [a] hero,” Kiir said.

General Ajongo, who has been in office for 11 months, has been battling with an undisclosed illness for months. He died on Friday morning at an Egyptian hospital.