Commissioner’s Health Struggle Ends in Juba
Michael Othow Bol, 62, died on Sunday at Juba Teaching Hospital after a sudden drop in blood sugar, press secretary Angelina Sabit confirmed.
The Makal County commissioner had battled diabetes since 2008, losing a leg to the disease yet remaining active in public service.
Legacy of Unity and Reconciliation
Appointed in June by former Upper Nile governor Gen. James Koang Chuol, Bol swiftly prioritised dialogue among Makal’s communities, launching outreach programmes that addressed long-standing tensions.
Sabit recalled that he viewed peacebuilding as “a daily duty, not a slogan”, citing early mediation forums that brought youth and elders from rival neighbourhoods face to face.
State Officials Share Condolences
Upper Nile secretary-general Moses Ezekiel called the death “a great loss”, highlighting Bol’s hands-on support for grassroots reconciliation initiatives across the state.
He offered condolences to the family and urged residents to preserve the calm the commissioner had cultivated through constant engagement.
Community Faces Transition
With Makal now lacking its chief administrator, county leaders plan talks this week on interim oversight while traditional mourning rituals continue.
Observers expect the state government to appoint an acting commissioner soon to maintain basic services and keep Bol’s peace agenda on track.