Gen. David Reath Malual Lath, the presidential advisor for peace, passed away on Monday evening at the Primrose Hospital in Juba, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny announced through a statement yesterday.

He succumbed to complications related to asthma.

Dr. Machar said the deceased was suddenly taken ill while officiating a meeting.

“While he was presiding over a meeting with Lou leaders to evaluate the results of the three-day Lou Conference that was held on 2-4 March 2023 at Freedom Hall, he was attacked by asthma,” Machar’s statement read. “He was rushed to the Primrose Hospital. He died minutes on arrival to the hospital while being attended to by doctors.”

He said the late Gen. Reath Malual was a hero of the liberation struggle for Self-Determination and independence of South Sudan.

“On behalf of the entire Movement and people of South Sudan, I am conveying my condolences to his family, relatives, and friends,” Machar wrote. “May God rest his soul in eternal peace.”   

President Salva Kiir Mayardit appointed Gen. Reath Malual as a presidential advisor for peace on 14 March 2022.

He was affiliated with First Vice President Riek Machar’s SPLMA-IO.

The peace advisor position had been vacant since former SPLA-IO Chief of General Staff Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual declined to take it up in June 2021.

The deceased was a senior military officer of the SPLA-IO and had served as Malakal Central Prison Director before the December 2013 crises and resultant violence.

He hailed from Uror County of Jonglei State.