(JUBA) – Teresa Adior Anguei, a wife of South Sudanese opposition leader and former army chief General Paul Malong Awan, has passed away in Juba. Family members confirmed that she died on Saturday at Nile King Hospital after a short illness.
Relatives said Adior had been suffering from headaches and fever in the days before her death. She chose not to seek medical care early because the symptoms appeared mild and she thought it was malaria. Her co wife, Ajok Wol Atak, told Radio Tamazuj that Adior had not reported any serious health problems before her condition suddenly became worse.
The situation changed rapidly when Adior lost the ability to speak and walk. Wol said she received a call late at night and immediately advised that the patient be taken to hospital so they could meet there. Adior was admitted to Nile King Hospital in Juba on Saturday. Doctors conducted a series of examinations, including tests to check for possible complications from a stroke.
She passed away less than an hour after the tests were completed and before the medical team could receive the results. According to Wol, the medical reports that came later showed that Adior died from problems linked to high blood pressure.
Adior was born around 1982 and leaves behind four children. The death of a senior political figure’s family member often carries broader significance in South Sudan, where personal networks and family ties are closely linked to political and business circles. General Malong, who once served as the army chief of staff, now leads an opposition movement.
The cost of emergency private medical care in Juba, such as the services provided at Nile King Hospital, can place considerable strain on household finances. A full suite of urgent diagnostic tests and admission for a serious condition may run into hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese Pounds. At the current market exchange rate of approximately 5,800 SSP to one US dollar in June 2026, such an episode can cost several hundred US dollars, an expense beyond the reach of many ordinary citizens.
This case also brings attention to the wider issue of access to timely healthcare in South Sudan. Many people delay seeking treatment for symptoms that seem minor, partly because of the cost of private clinics and the limited capacity of public health facilities. When conditions such as high blood pressure remain undetected, the outcome can be sudden and fatal.