S. Sudan's president mourns childhood friend

October 15, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, has joined lawmakers in mourning the passing of MP Bellario Ahoy Ngong on Wednesday in the capital, Juba.

Kiir and other parliamentarians paid tribute to their colleague as his casket was laid before the House.

“The death of Dr Bellario Ahoy Ngong is unfortunate and sudden to all of his colleagues and relatives,” said Kiir, expressing regret that those closest to him had been unable to say their goodbyes before his passing.

The MP fell sick last week and was rushed to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, in a critical condition.

South Sudan’s poor health care services remain significantly under-resourced, with the country’s politicians and wealthy elite typically seeking medical treatment abroad.

Kiir, a childhood friend of the late Awiel county representative, described Ngong as “a loving person to all his friends, relatives, in-laws and to his family where he made good husband to his wives and father to his children”.

After being farewelled by his parliamentary colleague’s, Ngong’s body was flown to Northern Bahr el Ghazal capital Aweil, where he will be laid to rest.

(ST)