Egypt’s Sisi offers condolences to South Sudan for death of Water Minister

CAIRO – 19 June 2022: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi sent a cable of condolences and consolation to President of the Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, and First Vice President, Riek Machar, as well as to the government and people of South Sudan on the death of Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Manawa Peter Gatkuoth. 

The President prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the deceased in peace, overwhelm him with His mercy and grant his family patience and solace, said Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady in a statement.

"Mr. Gatkuoth was one of the pillars of sincere national action in the African continent, devoting his life to defending his homeland’s causes. He added that Mr. Gatkuoth was also keen on maintaining constant contact and joint action with Egyptian officials to coordinate on all issues of mutual interest, which contributed to fostering relations between the two countries," Rady added.

Gatkuoth passed away on Sunday in Cairo, where he underwent a heart operation. 

The Water Minister had suffered from a chest pain when he was, in Juba, preparing a presentation on a project of dredging of Naam river on Friday before being submitted to the South Sudanese cabinet. Since then, he was admitted to two hospitals in Juba, but later his family asked to send him to Cairo for treatment, the newspaper added.

In Egypt, the minister was subjected to an urgent operation because one of his veins in his heart blocked blood pumping.