Emmanuel Ambrose Ocholimoi in his office recently.

The speaker of Eastern Equatoria state Legislative Assembly, Honorable Emmanuel Ambrose Ocholimoi, has died, at 58.

Honorable Ocholimoi passed away at his residential home in Torit town last night.

The state government spokesperson, Clement Laku, announced the death of Honorable Ocholimoi at his home this morning.

“We would like to inform the workers and the people of Eastern Equatoria state that today is going to be a public holiday and the flag of South Sudan will be lowered at half-mast throughout the state so that we can mourn our dear right honorable speaker who has just left us suddenly.”

Dr. Martin Adelino Iya, who was attending to Honorable Ocholimoi at home upon his death, said the late died of high blood pressure.

“I checked him and I found that the blood pressure was very high –above the normal –we call it clinically malignant hypertension,” said Dr Adelino.

“I rushed to the hospital to bring some medication to reduce the blood pressure, but when I and my nurse returned, we found the speaker was dead.”

The state flag to fly at half-mast for the next 3 days of mourning.

Honorable Ambrose Ocholimoi had served as the state speaker since 2006.

He will be buried at his home village in Hihala Boma.