President Salva Kiir salutes the casket of late General John Kong Nyuon, who died in Kenya on December 26th. (Photo: PU).

President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday paid his respect to late veteran commander General John Kong Nyuon, whose casket was brought home from the Kenyan capital Nairobi where he died.

Mourners gathered at Juba International Airport to receive the body of the former SPLA commander and one-time minister of defense.

Speaking to the Press, the Minister of Information, Hon. Michael Makuei Lueth described late Gen. John Kong as a dedicated liberator who contributed greatly during the liberation struggle.

Gen. John Kong, one of the founding members of the SPLM/SPLA, passed away on 26th December 2022 in Nairobi. He was in his late 70s.

Following his demise, the former Deputy Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Dr. Majak D’Agoot also hailed him as a leader who committed himself to South Sudanese unity.

Who is General John Kong?

In 1964, he joined Anyany one and served in different garrison, and progressed to the rank of captain.

He was assigned Commander of 105 and 104 Battalion under the overall command of Lt. Col. William Nyuon Bany.

In 1987, Late Kong was promoted to the rank of Alternate Commander (A/CDR), a newly created SPLA ranking structure by then in the movement, and in the same year, he was appointed Deputy Commander of Shakush Battalion under the zonal command of Commander James Wani Igga.

In 1992, he was the Overall commander of Operation Jungle Storm (OJS)-Juba operation and in 1993 he was appointed member of the Leadership Council and also Commander of the Independent Area Command of Yei and Kajo Keji.

After the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, CPA in 2005, Late John Kong served as a Presidential Security Advisor in 2007 and as a Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs after independence in 2011.

He also served as Governor of Jonglei State in 2013.