President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday joined mourners at Juba International Airport to receive the body of late former Governor Gen. John Kong Nyuon who died on 26th December 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Speaking to the Press, the Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth described the deceased as a dedicated liberator who contributed immensely during the liberation struggle for independence of South Sudan from Sudan.
Koang was one of the founding members of SPLA/SPLM movement.
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 Koang was promoted to the rank of Alternate Commander (A/CDR), newly created SPLA ranking structure by then in the movement and in the same year, he was appointed Deputy Commander of Shakush Battalion under 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 Leadership Council and also as Commander of Independent Area Command of Yei and Kajo Keji.
After the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, Koang served as a Presidential Security Advisor in 2007 and also as Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs after independence in 2011.
He also served as Governor of Jonglei State in 2013.
