Crime barricade tape. | Courtesy.

The Acting Police Commissioner in Western Bahr el Ghazal State says a prison warden took his own life following an alleged long illness.

Late sergeant Deng Kuol, 30, was a driver of the Acting Director of Wau Prison Service.

He was alone in the boss’ vehicle when he shot himself in Wau town on Monday.

Police Commissioner Major. General James Simon says the incident occurred amid a workshop on the rule of law.

He says the deceased complained he had been suffering for long from sickness and did not get a cure for the undisclosed disease.

“He was sick for a long time but did not cure his sickness, but unfortunately he killed himself when they were at an official mission attending the workshop,” he said.

General James told Eye Radio the police have filed a case and are investigating the incident

“As police, we opened a case at the Police North Station and we are investigating the reason behind this crime,” Gen. Simon added.

According to Eye Radio data collected from some states, suicide is on the rise in South Sudan, a concern for authorities in a country with one of the largest mental health gaps in the world.

In 2021 alone, greater Bahr el Ghazal recorded 38 suicide cases, 27 of whom were women and girls – and 11 were men.