South Sudan is mourning the passing of Hon. Bona Malwal Madut Ring, a veteran politician, journalist, and elder statesman who played a pivotal role in the country’s political and media landscape. He was 97.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit expressed profound sorrow over the loss of his “beloved brother and elder statesman.”
On behalf of the people and government of South Sudan, and his own family, the President extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and the Twic Mayardit community.
Who was Bona Malwal?
Bona Malwal was born in 1928 in Twic Mayardit County, Bahr El Ghazal (then part of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan).
Belonging to the Dinka ethnic group, he pursued education abroad, earning a diploma in journalism at Indiana University in 1963, and later a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in journalism and communications at Columbia University in 1969.
He began his career in journalism, working as an editor and founding several influential publications, including The Vigilant, Sudan Times, and Sudan Democratic Gazette.
Through these platforms, he gave voice to the people of Southern Sudan during decades of struggle and conflict.
Bona Malwal co-founded the Southern Front, a political organisation advocating for Southern Sudanese interests.
He later served as Minister of Culture and Information under President Gaafar Nimeiry (1973–1978), and held ministerial positions in the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region during the early 1980s.
He also acted as an advisor to the President of Sudan in the years leading up to South Sudan’s independence.
Even after formally retiring from active politics in 2011, he remained an influential elder statesman, offering guidance on national issues and advocating against tribal politics that could threaten South Sudan’s unity.
His career was not without controversy, as some questioned certain alignments and statements, but he remained widely respected for his deep experience and contributions to the nation.
Legacy
“Bona Malwal was a leader and visionary who sacrificed for the people of South Sudan and he will be dearly missed,” President Kiir said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this time of bereavement. May Almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace.”
Bona Malwal’s legacy spans journalism, politics, and advocacy, marking him as one of the earliest generations of Southern Sudanese leaders bridging the pre-independence and post-independence eras.
