The minister of gender and social development in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State passed on in Juba on Monday. 

Wayi Godwil, the state acting information and communication minister told Radio Tamazuj that Late Martin Mulai Dodo died of health complications at the Juba Medical Complex.

“We have received with great sadness the news of the untimely passing on of minister of gender, child and social welfare in Central Equatoria State on the 17th of May 2021 in Juba. And on behalf of the government of Central Equatoria, we offer the family and friends of Mulai our heartfelt condolences," he said.

"He was sick and he was referred to Khartoum for medication but he felt weak and succumbed to death at Juba Medical Complex," he added.

Godwil described Mulai’s death as a big blow to the government and said plans are underway to transport the remains to Yei for burial. 

A statement from the state government yesterday eulogized Mulai as, "A humble personality who dedicated his entire life to serve the people of Central Equatoria state and South Sudan in general in various portfolios with due diligence until he departed from this world."

In late March, the state lost its finance minister Diana Susu after succumbing to a short illness in Nairobi, Kenya.