The Late Sultan Ismail Konyi, former Boma State Governor. Photo Radio Tamazuj

Sultan Ismail Konyi, the former governor of the now-defunct Boma State and a prominent Murle chief died early this morning in Juba after a long illness.  

Lokali Amae, a Member of Parliament representing Boma County, told Radio Tamazuj earlier today that Sultan Ismail Kony has been sick for some time and had earlier this year sought medical treatment in Khartoum, Sudan.

“In the recent past we took him to Khartoum for treatment and he came back and fell sick again and his hands and legs were swollen and itching,” MP Lokali explained. “We again took him to the hospital the day before yesterday and he was discharged. We again took him back to a clinic in Hai Mouna at around 6 pm because he was breathing with difficulty and he was supposed to be put on oxygen but he refused.”

Lokali said the deceased chief asked to be taken home but his situation deteriorated and was rushed back to the clinic where he succumbed at around 1 am this morning.

Asked what the cause of death might have been, he said, “We are waiting for more information from the doctor.”

“It is not Coronavirus because he has been ill for a long time and we even took him to Khartoum. He went to Khartoum twice this year and the doctors there said to take him back home. So it is not Coronavirus,” MP Lokali added.

He said that the people of Greater Pibor have lost a great leader because Sultan Konyi did a lot in uplifting the Murle community and sent a multitude of people to schools both locally and in neighboring countries.

“I would like to tell our tribe that there is nothing we can do. We have to be strong like Sultan Ismail. He did his part in this world. It is now the time for the other leaders in South Sudan to also do their part,” Lokali said.

The former speaker of the defunct Boma State parliament, Judy Jonglei, corroborated what Honorable Lokali said regarding the deceased having swollen limbs and recently developing respiratory difficulties.

“But for the last few days he developed respiratory difficulties which might have caused his death but we are still waiting for the final information from his doctor,” Jonglei said.

Jonglei said the death is a great loss, “He was a leader of our people and a great politician and he used to solve all our problems as a people. His death will affect us as a community.” - Radio Tamazuj